Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 74 Second Substitute (2017GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Escamilla, L.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/23/2017

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• expands the tests and languages that may be accepted by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing for licensing a certified medical language interpreter;
• divides certification as a medical language interpreter into two tiers;
• extends certification renewal to a three-year cycle; and
• makes technical changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

MEDICAL INTERPRETER AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Luz Escamilla
House Sponsor: 
Rebecca Chavez-Houck
Cosponsor:
Curtis S. Bramble
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill amends the Medical Language Interpreter Act. 
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ expands the tests and languages that may be accepted by the Division of
Occupational and Professional Licensing for licensing a certified medical language
interpreter;
▸ divides certification as a medical language interpreter into two tiers;
▸ extends certification renewal to a three-year cycle; and
▸ makes technical changes. 
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
58-80a-102
, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 127
58-80a-303
, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 127
58-80a-304
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 127
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
58-80a-102
 is amended to read:
58-80a-102.
Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1) "Certified medical language interpreter" means a medical language interpreter who
has received a certificate from the division under this chapter.
(2) "Health care provider" means a person licensed under:
(a) Title 58, Chapter 5a, Podiatric Physician Licensing Act;
(b) Title 58, Chapter 16a, Utah Optometry Practice Act;
(c) Title 58, Chapter 17b, Pharmacy Practice Act;
(d) Title 58, Chapter 24b, Physical Therapy Practice Act;
(e) Title 58, Chapter 31b, Nurse Practice Act;
(f) Title 58, Chapter 31c, Nurse Licensure Compact;
(g) Title 58, Chapter 31d, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Compact;
(h) Title 58, Chapter 44a, Nurse Midwife Practice Act;
(i) Title 58, Chapter 57, Respiratory Care Practices Act;
(j) Title 58, Chapter 60, Mental Health Professional Practice Act;
(k) Title 58, Chapter 61, Psychologist Licensing Act;
(l) Title 58, Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act;
(m) Title 58, Chapter 68, Utah Osteopathic Medical Practice Act;
(n) Title 58, Chapter 69, Dentist and Dental Hygienist Practice Act;
(o) Title 58, Chapter 70a, Physician Assistant Act;
(p) Title 58, Chapter 71, Naturopathic Physician Practice Act;
(q) Title 58, Chapter 73, Chiropractic Physician Practice Act; or
(r) Title 58, Chapter 77, Direct-Entry Midwife Act.
(3) "Medical language interpreter" means a person who, for compensation, performs
verbal language interpretation services between a health care provider who speaks English and
another person for the purpose of assisting the person in seeking or obtaining medical advice,
diagnoses, or treatment.
(4) "National certification organization" means one of the following national
organizations that certifies medical interpreters:
(a) the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters; or
(b) the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters.
[
(4)
] 
(5)
 "National standards of practice" means the National Standards of Practice,
published by the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care.
Section 2. Section 
58-80a-303
 is amended to read:
58-80a-303.
Qualifications for certification.
(1)
 [
A person
] 
An individual
 qualifies as a 
tier 1
 certified medical language interpreter
if the [
person
] 
individual
:
[
(1)
] 
(a)
 acts as a medical language interpreter between English and at least one [
of the
following languages:
] 
other language;
[
(a) Spanish;
]
[
(b) Russian;
]
[
(c) Bosnian;
]
[
(d) Somali;
]
[
(e) Mandarin Chinese;
]
[
(f) Cantonese; or
]
[
(g) Navajo;
]
[
(2) passes an examination administered by, or under contract with, the division, that
tests:
]
[
(a) the following areas, with respect to the language for which the person applies for
certification:
]
(b) passes an oral and written examination:
(i) administered by:
(A) the division;
(B) a person under contract with the division;
(C) a national certification organization; or
(D) a person approved by the division by rule, made in accordance with Title 63G,
Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act; and
(ii) that tests:
[
(i)
] 
(A)
 basic language fluency 
with respect to the language for which the individual
applies for certification
;
[
(ii)
] 
(B)
 basic medical terminology 
with respect to the language for which the
individual applies for certification
, including the ability to[
: (A)
] name human body parts[
;
(B)
]
,
 name internal human organs[
; (C)
]
,
 describe basic medical symptoms[
;
]
,
 and [
(D)
]
describe basic medical instructions, including dosage amounts and frequency; [
and
]
[
(iii)
] 
(C)
 basic cultural competency relating to medical care beliefs and practices that
are common to people who speak [
that language
] 
the language for which the individual applies
for certification
;
[
(b)
] 
(D)
 knowledge and understanding of the national standards of practice; and
[
(c)
] 
(E)
 a basic understanding of medical confidentiality requirements, including the
confidentiality requirements of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act;
[
(3)
] 
(c)
 signs a statement agreeing to abide by the national standards of practice; and
[
(4)
] 
(d)
 pays the fee described in Section 
58-80a-305
.
(2) If an oral examination under Subsection (1)(b) is not available in the language for
which an individual applies for certification, the individual may qualify as a tier 2 certified
medical language interpreter if the individual passes the written portion of an examination
under Subsection (1)(b) and completes all other requirements under Subsection (1).
Section 3. Section 
58-80a-304
 is amended to read:
58-80a-304.
Term of certification -- Expiration -- Renewal.
(1) [
The
] 
Notwithstanding Section 
58-1-308
, the
 division shall issue each certification
under this chapter in accordance with a [
two-year
] 
three-year
 renewal cycle established by rule. 
The division may by rule extend or shorten a renewal cycle by as much as [
one year
] 
two years
to stagger the renewal cycles that the division administers.
(2) Each certification automatically expires on the expiration date shown on the
certification unless the certified medical language interpreter renews the certification in
accordance with Section 
58-1-308
.