Or. Admin. R. 839-050-0300

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 9, September 1, 2024

Section 839-050-0300 - Interpreters and Assistive Communication Devices

(1) When a person unable to speak or understand the English language, or having a physical hearing or speaking impairment, is involved in a contested case hearing, such person is entitled to a qualified interpreter or appropriate assistive communication device. All interpreters will be appointed by the Administrative Law Judge. A participant wishing to obtain the services of an interpreter or to obtain an assistive communication device must notify the Administrative Law Judge no later than 20 days before the hearing. Such notification must include:

(a) The name of the person needing a qualified interpreter or assistive communication device;

(b) The person's status as a party or a witness in the proceeding; and

(c) If the request is on behalf of:

(A) A person with a physical hearing or speaking impairment, the nature and extent of the person's impairment, and the type of aural interpreter, or assistive communication device needed or preferred; or

(B) A person unable to speak or understand the English language, the language spoken by the person unable to speak or understand the English language.

(2) If a person with a physical hearing or speaking impairment is a party or a witness in a hearing:

(a) The Administrative Law Judge will appoint a qualified interpreter and make available appropriate assistive communication devices whenever it is necessary to interpret the proceedings to, or to interpret the testimony of, the person with a physical hearing or speaking impairment.

(b) No fee will be charged to the person with a physical hearing or speaking impairment for the appointment of an interpreter or use of an assistive communication device. No fee will be charged to any person for the appointment of an interpreter or the use of an assistive communication device if appointment or use is made to determine whether the person has a physical hearing or speaking impairment.

(3) If a person unable to speak or understand the English language is a party or a witness in a hearing:

(a) The Administrative Law Judge will appoint a qualified interpreter whenever it is necessary to interpret the proceedings to a party unable to speak or understand the English language, to interpret the testimony of a party or a witness unable to speak or understand the English language, or to assist the Administrative Law Judge in performing the duties of the Administrative Law Judge.

(b) No fee will be charged to any person for the appointment of an interpreter to interpret the testimony of a non-English speaking party or witness or to interpret the proceedings to a non-English speaking party.

(4) When a participant requests the services of an interpreter, the Administrative Law Judge will appoint a qualified interpreter who has been certified under ORS 45.291. If no certified interpreter is available, able, or willing to serve, the Administrative Law Judge will appoint a qualified interpreter. For the purposes of these rules, a "qualified interpreter" means:

(a) For a person with a physical hearing or speaking impairment, a person readily able to communicate with the person with the impairment, interpret the proceedings, and accurately repeat and interpret the statements of the person with the impairment to the Administrative Law Judge.

(b) For a person unable to speak or understand the English language, a person readily able to communicate with the person unable to speak or understand the English language and who can orally transfer the meaning of statements to and from English and the language spoken by the person unable to speak or understand the English language. A qualified interpreter must be able to interpret in a manner that conserves the meaning, tone, level, style, and register of the original statement, without additions or omissions. "Qualified interpreter" does not include a person who is unable to interpret the dialect, slang, or specialized vocabulary used by the party or witness.

(5) When the hearing begins, the Administrative Law Judge will require the person serving as an interpreter to state the person's name on the record and whether the person is certified under ORS 45.291. If the interpreter is certified, the interpreter will not be required to make the oath or affirmation required by ORS 40.325 or to submit the interpreter's qualifications on the record. If an interpreter is not certified under ORS 45.291, the Administrative Law Judge will require the interpreter to state or submit the interpreter's qualifications on the record and make an oath or affirmation to make a true and impartial interpretation of the proceedings in an understandable manner using the interpreter's best skills and judgment in accordance with the standards and ethics of the interpreter profession.

(6) The Administrative Law Judge will not appoint any person under these rules if:

(a) The person has a conflict of interest with any of the participants or witnesses;

(b) The person is unable to understand the Administrative Law Judge, participants or witnesses or cannot be understood by the Administrative Law Judge, participants or witnesses; or

(c) The person is unable to cooperate with Administrative Law Judge, the person in need of an interpreter, or the counsel for that person.

Or. Admin. R. 839-050-0300

BL 8-1986, f. & ef. 9-2-86; BL 4-1993(Temp), f. 4-7-93, cert. ef. 4-12-93; BL 8-1993, f. & cert. ef. 9-3-93, Renumbered from 839-030-0145; BL 12-1996, f. & cert. ef. 12-10-96; BLI 2-2000, f. & cert. ef. 1-27-00; BLI 4-2002, f. 2-14-02, cert. ef. 2-15-02; BLI 15-2004, f. 11-1-04, cert. ef. 11-3-04; BLI 13-2006, f. 3-23-06, cert. ef. 3-24-06; BLI 5-2014, f. & cert. ef. 4-15-14; BLI 8-2019, amend filed 07/01/2019, effective7/1/2019

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS chapter 183 & ORS 651.060(4)

Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 279C.860, 279C.865, 652.332(3), 653.065(1), 658.115, 658.407(3), 658.820, 659A.845 & 659A.850