(1) Subject to the availability of funding, the State Court Administrator shall establish a program for the certification of court interpreters. The program shall be established by rules adopted pursuant to ORS § 1.002 and shall include, but not be limited to, provisions for:

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(a) Prescribing the form and content of applications for certification;

(b) Prescribing and collecting reasonable fees for the application, examination, certification and renewal of certification for court interpreters;

(c) Establishing categories of certificates based on the nature of the interpreter services to be provided, including categories for interpreters for persons with disabilities, as defined in ORS § 45.285, and for interpreters for non-English-speaking persons, as defined in ORS § 45.275;

(d) Establishing minimum competency requirements for court interpreters in the various categories of certification;

(e) Establishing teaching programs designed to educate court interpreters in ethical, substantive and procedural legal issues;

(f) Prescribing the form of and administering examinations for the purpose of testing court interpreters for competency and ethics;

(g) Establishing grounds for renewal, suspension or cancellation of certificates;

(h) Establishing a process for receiving comments and input into the policy and procedures of the certification program;

(i) Establishing a process for receiving comments and input on compliance with ORS § 45.272 to 45.297;

(j) Establishing a process for receiving comments and input on compliance with the code of professional responsibility adopted under ORS § 45.288; and

(k) Establishing a process by which an adversely affected interpreter may seek review of any decision made by the State Court Administrator on renewal, suspension or cancellation of a certificate.

(2) An interpreter may be certified in Oregon by the State Court Administrator upon satisfactory proof that the interpreter is certified in good standing by the federal courts or by a state having a certification program that is equivalent to the program established under this section. [1993 c.687 § 3; 2001 c.242 § 3; 2007 c.70 § 15]