H.B. 232

1

MEDICAL LANGUAGE INTERPRETER
2 AMENDMENTS
3 2010 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Rebecca Chavez-Houck
6 Senate Sponsor: Allen M. Christensen
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill recodifies the Medical Language Interpreter Act and amends the act by
11 providing for expiration and renewal of certification, denial of certification, and for
12 disciplinary actions.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This bill:
15 . defines terms;
16 . recodifies the Medical Language Interpreter Act;
17 . provides for a term of certification for, and for expiration and renewal of
18 certification as, a certified medical language interpreter;
19 . provides for disciplinary proceedings against, and for denial of certification as, a
20 certified medical language interpreter; and
21 . makes technical changes.
22 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
23 None
24 Other Special Clauses:
25 None
26 Utah Code Sections Affected:
27 ENACTS:

28 58-80a-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
29 58-80a-304, Utah Code Annotated 1953
30 58-80a-401, Utah Code Annotated 1953
31 58-80a-503, Utah Code Annotated 1953
32 RENUMBERS AND AMENDS:
33 58-80a-101, (Renumbered from 58-80-101, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter
34 49)
35 58-80a-102, (Renumbered from 58-80-102, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter
36 49)
37 58-80a-301, (Renumbered from 58-80-201, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter
38 49)
39 58-80a-302, (Renumbered from 58-80-202, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter
40 49)
41 58-80a-303, (Renumbered from 58-80-203, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter
42 49)
43 58-80a-305, (Renumbered from 58-80-401, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter
44 49)
45 58-80a-501, (Renumbered from 58-80-301, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter
46 49)
47 58-80a-502, (Renumbered from 58-80-302, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter
48 49)
49 58-80a-601, (Renumbered from 58-80-402, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter
50 49)
51
52 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
53 Section 1. Section 58-80a-101 , which is renumbered from Section 58-80-101 is
54 renumbered and amended to read:
55 CHAPTER 80a. MEDICAL LANGUAGE INTERPRETER ACT
56 Part 1. General Provisions
57 [58-80-101]. 58-80a-101. Title.
58 This chapter is known as the "Medical Language Interpreter Act."

59 Section 2. Section 58-80a-102 , which is renumbered from Section 58-80-102 is
60 renumbered and amended to read:
61 [58-80-102]. 58-80a-102. Definitions.
62 As used in this chapter:
63 (1) "Certified medical language interpreter" means a medical language interpreter who
64 has received a certificate from the division under this chapter.
65 (2) "Health care provider" means a person licensed under:
66 (a) Title 58, Chapter 5a, Podiatric Physician Licensing Act;
67 (b) Title 58, Chapter 16a, Utah Optometry Practice Act;
68 (c) Title 58, Chapter 17b, Pharmacy Practice Act;
69 (d) Title 58, Chapter 24b, Physical [Therapist] Therapy Practice Act;
70 (e) Title 58, Chapter 31b, Nurse Practice Act;
71 (f) Title 58, Chapter 31c, Nurse Licensure Compact;
72 (g) Title 58, Chapter 31d, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Compact;
73 (h) Title 58, Chapter 44a, Nurse Midwife Practice Act;
74 (i) Title 58, Chapter 57, Respiratory Care Practices Act;
75 (j) Title 58, Chapter 60, Mental Health Professional Practice Act;
76 (k) Title 58, Chapter 61, Psychologist Licensing Act;
77 (l) Title 58, Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act;
78 (m) Title 58, Chapter 68, Utah Osteopathic Medical Practice Act;
79 (n) Title 58, Chapter 69, Dentist and Dental Hygienist Practice Act;
80 (o) Title 58, Chapter 70a, Physician Assistant Act;
81 (p) Title 58, Chapter 71, Naturopathic Physician Practice Act;
82 (q) Title 58, Chapter 73, Chiropractic Physician Practice Act; or
83 (r) Title 58, Chapter 77, Direct-entry Midwife Act.
84 (3) "Medical language interpreter" means a person who, for compensation, performs
85 verbal language interpretation services between a health care provider who speaks English and
86 another person for the purpose of assisting the person in seeking or obtaining medical advice,
87 diagnoses, or treatment.
88 (4) "National standards of practice" means the National Standards of Practice,
89 published by the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care.

90 Section 3. Section 58-80a-201 is enacted to read:
91 Part 2. Board
92 58-80a-201. Certified Medical Language Interpreter Advisory Board.
93 The division shall notify the Health and Human Services Interim Committee if it
94 determines that there is a need to create, by statute, a Certified Medical Language Interpreter
95 Advisory Board.
96 Section 4. Section 58-80a-301 , which is renumbered from Section 58-80-201 is
97 renumbered and amended to read:
98 Part 3. Certification
99 [58-80-201]. 58-80a-301. Certification.
100 (1) The division shall issue to a person who qualifies under this chapter a certificate as
101 a certified medical language interpreter.
102 (2) A certificate described in Subsection (1) shall specify the language that the person
103 is certified for.
104 (3) This chapter prohibits a person from representing or holding oneself out as a
105 certified medical language interpreter if the person does not have a certificate described in
106 Subsection (1).
107 Section 5. Section 58-80a-302 , which is renumbered from Section 58-80-202 is
108 renumbered and amended to read:
109 [58-80-202]. 58-80a-302. Certification is voluntary.
110 (1) The certification provided under this chapter is voluntary.
111 (2) This chapter does not prohibit a person from acting as a medical language
112 interpreter, if the person does not have a certificate described in Subsection [ 58-80-201 ]
113 58-80a-301 (1).
114 Section 6. Section 58-80a-303 , which is renumbered from Section 58-80-203 is
115 renumbered and amended to read:
116 [58-80-203]. 58-80a-303. Qualifications for certification.
117 A person qualifies as a certified medical language interpreter if the person:
118 (1) acts as a medical language interpreter between English and at least one of the
119 following languages:
120 (a) Spanish;

121 (b) Russian;
122 (c) Bosnian;
123 (d) Somali;
124 (e) Mandarin Chinese;
125 (f) Cantonese; or
126 (g) Navajo;
127 (2) passes an examination administered by, or under contract with, the division, that
128 tests:
129 (a) the following areas, with respect to the language for which the person applies for
130 certification:
131 (i) basic language fluency;
132 (ii) basic medical terminology, including the ability to:
133 (A) name human body parts;
134 (B) name internal human organs;
135 (C) describe basic medical symptoms; and
136 (D) describe basic medical instructions, including dosage amounts and frequency; and
137 (iii) basic cultural competency relating to medical care beliefs and practices that are
138 common to people who speak that language;
139 (b) knowledge and understanding of the national standards of practice; and
140 (c) a basic understanding of medical confidentiality requirements, including the
141 confidentiality requirements of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act;
142 (3) signs a statement agreeing to abide by the national standards of practice; and
143 (4) pays the fee described in Section [ 58-80-401 ] 58-80a-305 .
144 Section 7. Section 58-80a-304 is enacted to read:
145 58-80a-304. Term of certification -- Expiration -- Renewal.
146 (1) The division shall issue each certification under this chapter in accordance with a
147 two-year renewal cycle established by rule. The division may by rule extend or shorten a
148 renewal cycle by as much as one year to stagger the renewal cycles that the division
149 administers.
150 (2) Each certification automatically expires on the expiration date shown on the
151 certification unless the certified medical language interpreter renews the certification in

152 accordance with Section 58-1-308 .
153 Section 8. Section 58-80a-305 , which is renumbered from Section 58-80-401 is
154 renumbered and amended to read:
155 [58-80-401]. 58-80a-305. Fees -- Rulemaking authority.
156 (1) The division may charge a fee, established under Section 63J-1-504 , to recover the
157 costs of:
158 (a) administering the examination described in Section [ 58-80-203 ] 58-80a-303 ; and
159 (b) issuing the certificate described in Subsection [ 58-80-201 ] 58-80a-301 (1).
160 (2) The division may make rules, pursuant to Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
161 Administrative Rulemaking Act, to accomplish the requirements of this chapter.
162 Section 9. Section 58-80a-401 is enacted to read:
163 Part 4. Certification Denial and Discipline
164 58-80a-401. Grounds for denial of certification -- Disciplinary proceedings.
165 Grounds for refusing to issue a certification to an applicant, for refusing to renew the
166 certification of a certified medical language interpreter, for revoking, suspending, restricting, or
167 placing on probation the certification of a certified medical language interpreter, for issuing a
168 public or private reprimand to a certified medical language interpreter, and for issuing a cease
169 and desist order shall be in accordance with Section 58-1-401 .
170 Section 10. Section 58-80a-501 , which is renumbered from Section 58-80-301 is
171 renumbered and amended to read:
172 Part 5. Unlawful and Unprofessional Conduct
173 [58-80-301]. 58-80a-501. Unlawful conduct.
174 In addition to the definition in Subsection 58-1-501 (1), "unlawful conduct" includes
175 representing or holding oneself out as a certified medical language interpreter when not
176 certified under this chapter.
177 Section 11. Section 58-80a-502 , which is renumbered from Section 58-80-302 is
178 renumbered and amended to read:
179 [58-80-302]. 58-80a-502. Penalty for unlawful conduct.
180 A person who violates the unlawful conduct provisions described in Section
181 [ 58-80-301 ] 58-80a-501 is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
182 Section 12. Section 58-80a-503 is enacted to read:

183 58-80a-503. Unprofessional conduct.
184 "Unprofessional conduct" includes:
185 (1) conduct which is detrimental to the interests of the public;
186 (2) willful or negligent betrayal or disclosure of confidential information about which
187 the certified medical language interpreter becomes knowledgeable as a result of or incidental to
188 the certified medical language interpreter's practice as a certified medical language interpreter;
189 (3) false or deceptive representation of a certified medical language interpreter's skills,
190 competence, capability, or resources as a certified medical language interpreter;
191 (4) offering, undertaking, or agreeing to undertake an assignment as a certified medical
192 language interpreter for which the certified medical language interpreter is not qualified or
193 which the certified medical language interpreter cannot complete as agreed in a professional
194 manner;
195 (5) the use of any chemical, drug, or alcohol in any unlawful manner or in any manner
196 which negatively affects the ability of the certified medical language interpreter to competently
197 practice as a certified medical language interpreter;
198 (6) willfully and intentionally making any false or fraudulent interpretation, statement,
199 or representation in the performance of the certified medical language interpreter's duties;
200 (7) any conduct contrary to the recognized standards and ethics of the profession of a
201 certified medical language interpreter;
202 (8) gross incompetence in practice as a certified medical language interpreter;
203 (9) violation of any provision of this chapter or rules promulgated to regulate the
204 practice of certified medical language interpreters; or
205 (10) conviction of a felony or any other crime which is considered by the board to
206 represent activity detrimental to the public interest as that interest is reflected in the person
207 continuing to practice as a certified medical language interpreter.
208 Section 13. Section 58-80a-601 , which is renumbered from Section 58-80-402 is
209 renumbered and amended to read:
210 Part 6. Miscellaneous
211 [58-80-402]. 58-80a-601. Priority for certified medical language
212 interpreter.
213 The Department of Health and the Department of Human Services may give priority to

214 contracting with companies that use certified medical language interpreters.





Legislative Review Note
as of 11-23-09 1:17 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel