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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


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