(705 ILCS 78/5)

Sec. 5. Foreign Language Court Interpreter Program. The Supreme Court may establish and administer by rule or procedure a program of testing and certification for foreign language court interpreters. The program may provide that:

(1) The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts may work cooperatively with community colleges and other private or public educational institutions and with other public or private organizations to establish a certification preparation curriculum and suitable training programs to ensure the availability of certified interpreters. Training programs may be made readily available throughout the State.

(2) The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts may establish and adopt standards of proficiency, written and oral, in English and the language to be interpreted.

(3) The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts may conduct periodic examinations to ensure the availability of certified interpreters. Periodic examinations may be made readily available throughout the State.

(4) The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts may compile, maintain, and disseminate a current list of interpreters certified by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.

(5) The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts may charge reasonable fees, as authorized by the Supreme Court, for testing, training, and certification. These fees shall be deposited into the Foreign Language Interpreter Fund, which is hereby created as a special fund in the State Treasury.

(6) The expenses of testing, training, and certifying foreign language court interpreters under the program, as authorized by the Supreme Court, may be paid, subject to appropriation, from the Foreign Language Interpreter Fund or any other source of funds available for this purpose.

(Source: P.A. 92-16, eff. 6-28-01.)