H.B. 144 Enrolled

1

MEDICAL LANGUAGE INTERPRETER ACT
2 2009 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Rebecca Chavez-Houck
5 Senate Sponsor: Allen M. Christensen
6 Cosponsors:
7 Trisha S. Beck
8 Jackie Biskupski
9 Bradley M. Daw
10 Janice M. Fisher
11 Lorie D. Fowlke
12 Christine A. JohnsonBrian S. King
David Litvack
Ronda Rudd Menlove
Carol Spackman Moss
Marie H. Poulson
Paul RayPhil Riesen
Stephen E. Sandstrom
Jennifer M. Seelig
Evan J. Vickers
Mark A. Wheatley
Larry B. Wiley 13
14 LONG TITLE
15 General Description:
16 This bill enacts the Medical Language Interpreter Act, within the Division of
17 Occupational and Professional Licensing Act.
18 Highlighted Provisions:
19 This bill:
20 . defines terms;
21 . provides that a person who renders language interpretation services between a
22 health care provider who speaks English and another person (medical interpreter
23 services), in Spanish, Russian, Bosnian, Somali, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, or
24 Navajo may voluntarily obtain certification as a certified medical language
25 interpreter;
26 . provides that a person may provide medical interpreter services without obtaining
27 the certification described in the preceding paragraph;
28 . describes the requirements that a person must comply with in order to obtain
29 certification;
30 . makes it a class A misdemeanor to represent or hold oneself out as a certified
31 medical language interpreter when not certified under the provisions of this bill;

32 . permits the division to charge a fee to recover the costs of administering the
33 certification examination and issuing the certificate described in this bill;
34 . grants rulemaking authority to the division; and
35 . allows the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services to give
36 priority to contracting with companies that use certified medical language
37 interpreters.
38 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
39 None
40 Other Special Clauses:
41 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2009.
42 Utah Code Sections Affected:
43 ENACTS:
44 58-78-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
45 58-78-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
46 58-78-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
47 58-78-202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
48 58-78-203, Utah Code Annotated 1953
49 58-78-301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
50 58-78-302, Utah Code Annotated 1953
51 58-78-401, Utah Code Annotated 1953
52 58-78-402, Utah Code Annotated 1953
53
54 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
55 Section 1. Section 58-78-101 is enacted to read:
56 CHAPTER 78. MEDICAL LANGUAGE INTERPRETER ACT
57 Part 1. General Provisions
58 58-78-101. Title.
59 This chapter is known as the "Medical Language Interpreter Act."

60 Section 2. Section 58-78-102 is enacted to read:
61 58-78-102. 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 24a, Physical Therapist 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 58-78-201 is enacted to read:
91 Part 2. Certification
92 58-78-201. Certification.
93 (1) The division shall issue to a person who qualifies under this chapter a certificate as
94 a certified medical language interpreter.
95 (2) A certificate described in Subsection (1) shall specify the language that the person
96 is certified for.
97 (3) This chapter prohibits a person from representing or holding oneself out as a
98 certified medical language interpreter if the person does not have a certificate described in
99 Subsection (1).
100 Section 4. Section 58-78-202 is enacted to read:
101 58-78-202. Certification is voluntary.
102 (1) The certification provided under this chapter is voluntary.
103 (2) This chapter does not prohibit a person from acting as a medical language
104 interpreter, if the person does not have a certificate described in Subsection 58-78-201 (1).
105 Section 5. Section 58-78-203 is enacted to read:
106 58-78-203. Qualifications for certification.
107 A person qualifies as a certified medical language interpreter if the person:
108 (1) acts as a medical language interpreter between English and at least one of the
109 following languages:
110 (a) Spanish;
111 (b) Russian;
112 (c) Bosnian;
113 (d) Somali;
114 (e) Mandarin Chinese;
115 (f) Cantonese; or

116 (g) Navajo;
117 (2) passes an examination administered by, or under contract with, the division, that
118 tests:
119 (a) the following areas, with respect to the language for which the person applies for
120 certification:
121 (i) basic language fluency;
122 (ii) basic medical terminology, including the ability to:
123 (A) name human body parts;
124 (B) name internal human organs;
125 (C) describe basic medical symptoms; and
126 (D) describe basic medical instructions, including dosage amounts and frequency; and
127 (iii) basic cultural competency relating to medical care beliefs and practices that are
128 common to people who speak that language;
129 (b) knowledge and understanding of the national standards of practice; and
130 (c) a basic understanding of medical confidentiality requirements, including the
131 confidentiality requirements of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
132 Act;
133 (3) signs a statement agreeing to abide by the national standards of practice; and
134 (4) pays the fee described in Section 58-78-401 .
135 Section 6. Section 58-78-301 is enacted to read:
136 Part 3. Unlawful Conduct
137 58-78-301. Unlawful conduct.
138 In addition to the definition in Subsection 58-1-501 (1), "unlawful conduct" includes
139 representing or holding oneself out as a certified medical language interpreter when not
140 certified under this chapter.
141 Section 7. Section 58-78-302 is enacted to read:
142 58-78-302. Penalty for unlawful conduct.
143 A person who violates the unlawful conduct provisions described in Section 58-78-301

144 is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
145 Section 8. Section 58-78-401 is enacted to read:
146 Part 4. Miscellaneous
147 58-78-401. Fees -- Rulemaking authority.
148 (1) The division may charge a fee, established under Section 63J-1-303 , to recover the
149 costs of:
150 (a) administering the examination described in Section 58-78-203 ; and
151 (b) issuing the certificate described in Subsection 58-78-201 (1).
152 (2) The division may make rules, pursuant to Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
153 Administrative Rulemaking Act, to accomplish the requirements of this chapter.
154 Section 9. Section 58-78-402 is enacted to read:
155 58-78-402. Priority for certified medical language interpreter.
156 The Department of Health and the Department of Human Services may give priority to
157 contracting with companies that use certified medical language interpreters.
158 Section 10. Effective date.
159 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2009.