Title: In Re: Amendments to Florida Rules for Certification and Regulation of Court Interpreters
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: SC13-304
State: Florida
Issuer: Florida Supreme Court
Date: March 27, 2014

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC13-304 
____________ 
 
 
IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO THE FLORIDA RULES FOR 
CERTIFICATION AND REGULATION OF COURT INTERPRETERS. 
 
[March 27, 2014] 
 
 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
The Court Interpreter Certification Board has filed a petition asking this 
Court to consider amendments to the Florida Rules for Certification and 
Regulation of Court Interpreters.  We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. 
Const.  We adopt the proposed amendments as submitted. 
BACKGROUND 
 
This Court adopted the Florida Rules for Certification and Regulation of 
Court Interpreters in 2006.1
                                          
 
 
1.  See In re Petition to Adopt Fla. Rules for Certification & Regulation of 
Court Interpreters, 933 So. 2d 504 (Fla. 2006). 
  In adopting the rules, we created the Court Interpreter 
Certification Board, defined its functions and powers, and established the court 
 
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interpreter certification program.  The purpose of these rules is to provide “a 
reliable certification program” for the state court system so that persons “who may 
be disadvantaged by a language barrier” may receive the assistance needed to 
“fully participat[e] in the judicial process.”2
 
As adopted in 2006, the Rules for Certification and Regulation of Court 
Interpreters (Court Interpreter Rules) established two levels of expertise for foreign 
language interpreters working in the courts: (1) “certified” interpreters and (2) 
“duly qualified” interpreters.
 
 
In its petition, the Court Interpreter Certification Board (Board) states that 
since its authorization in 2006, the court interpreter program has made substantial 
progress toward the goal of eliminating language barriers in the courts.  However, 
the Board seeks amendments to the rules to strengthen the program and better 
equip the courts to provide effective interpreting services and thereby give equal 
access and full participation to persons affected by language barriers. 
3
                                          
 
 
2.  Id. at 506. 
 
3.  Fla. Court Interp. R. 14.100(a)-(b). 
  To become a certified interpreter, an applicant was 
required to attend a training program offered by the Office of the State Courts 
Administrator (OSCA); pass a written examination; pass an oral proficiency 
examination unless the applicant had already passed an equivalent exam in another 
state or held a certificate from the federal court system; take an oath to uphold the 
 
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code of conduct for court interpreters; undergo a background check if required by 
the Board; and comply with continuing education requirements.4  To be designated 
a “duly qualified interpreter,” an applicant was required to obtain a passing grade 
on an examination, attend the OSCA training program, be “familiar with” the court 
interpreters’ code of conduct, and have “an understanding of basic legal 
terminology in both languages.”5
 
According to a comprehensive study undertaken by the Supreme Court 
Commission on Trial Court Performance and Accountability (Commission),
 
6
                                          
 
 
4.  Fla. Court Interp. R. 14.200. 
 
5.  Fla. Court Interp. R. 14.100(b). 
 
6.  Supreme Court Comm’n on Trial Court Performance & Accountability, 
Recommendations for the Provision of Court Interpreting Services in Florida’s 
Trial Courts (Nov. 2010). 
 the 
current certification program needs improvement.  The Commission’s critique can 
be summarized as follows: (1) there is inadequate incentive for interpreters to 
obtain certification; (2) the qualifications needed to be considered “duly qualified” 
are insufficient; and (3) the differing levels of qualifications needed for the two 
categories have created a double standard under which certified interpreters are 
required to meet rigorous standards and “duly qualified” interpreters are not.  The 
Commission recommended that the court interpreter program be modified to (1) 
encourage court interpreters to become certified; (2) strengthen the provision of 
 
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interpreting services in the courts; (3) help judges select the most qualified 
interpreters available for service in court proceedings; and (4) eliminate the 
disparity in the qualifications interpreters are required to possess to perform 
interpreting services in the courts. 
 
The Board agrees with the Commission’s critique of the existing court 
interpreter rules and is proposing the instant amendments in order to strengthen 
court interpreting services.  One specific problem identified by the Board is that 
too often uncertified interpreters are providing services in the court system under 
the designation “duly qualified,” and there is no provision by law or court rule that 
expresses a preference for certified over “duly qualified” interpreters.7
The centerpiece of the Board’s proposal is the creation of three 
“designations” of interpreters recognized as qualified to provide interpreting 
services in the courts instead of the current two-tiered classification system.  And 
instead of the current system in which a “duly qualified” interpreter can keep that 
designation indefinitely, the proposed new classification system will include the 
  To remedy 
this and related deficiencies, the Board proposes that we revamp the certification 
program. 
                                          
 
 
7.  See, e.g., Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.560 (describing circumstances in which 
interpreters are to be appointed); Fla. R. Jud. Admin 2.560(e) (“Whenever 
possible, a certified or duly qualified interpreter, as defined in the Rules for 
Certification and Regulation of Court Interpreters, shall be appointed.”) 
 
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expectation that interpreters will progress from lower to higher levels of expertise 
so that the overall quality of interpreting services available to the courts will 
improve.  We adopt the amendments as proposed. 
AMENDMENTS 
 
The amendments include changing the name of this body of rules to the 
“Florida Rules for Certification and Regulation of Spoken Language Court 
Interpreters.”  (The emphasized words are being added.)  This amendment will 
limit and clarify the scope of this body of rules. 
 
In part I of the rules, rule 14.100 is amended to provide definitions of the 
three “designations” or categories of court interpreters recognized under the new 
rules and also definitions of terms used in the new system of more rigorous testing 
and qualifications for designated interpreters.  Also in part I, rule 14.110 is 
amended to change the composition of the Board and to revise the provisions on 
the powers and duties of the Board. 
The three “designations” of interpreters are: (1) certified court interpreter; 
(2) language-skilled interpreter; and (3) provisionally approved interpreter.  The 
certified court interpreter designation signifies the highest level of expertise.  The 
language-skilled interpreter designation signifies an interpreter who has reached 
the same level of proficiency as a certified interpreter but is expert in a language 
for which there is no state certification exam.  The provisionally approved 
 
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interpreter designation is for the entry-level, minimally qualified interpreter.  
Under the amended rules, when a state certification exam for a particular language 
becomes available, a language-skilled interpreter is required to take and pass the 
exam to become certified within two years.  A provisionally approved interpreter is 
also required to complete the process of becoming certified within two years.  The 
term “duly qualified interpreter” is redefined to mean a certified court interpreter, a 
language-skilled interpreter, or, if no certified or language-skilled interpreter is 
available, a provisionally approved interpreter.  Thus the term “duly qualified 
interpreter” can mean any of the three recognized designations but includes a 
provisionally approved interpreter only if neither a certified nor a language-skilled 
interpreter is available. 
In part II of the rules, the amendments set out the qualifications required for 
attaining each of the three designations.  Under the amendments to rule 14.200, all 
applicants for designation must attend a two-day training program presented by 
OSCA or an approved training provider; pass a written exam; document twenty 
hours of courtroom observation; take an oath to uphold the court interpreters’ code 
of conduct; pass a background check administered by the Board under published 
board operating procedures; agree to earn sixteen credits of continuing education; 
and pay an application fee. 
 
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New rule 14.205 provides the requirements for certified court interpreters.  
In addition to the basic requirements applicable to all three designations, applicants 
for the designation of “certified court interpreter” must pass an oral performance 
exam (unless entitled to a waiver based on certification in the federal courts or 
passage of an exam in another state with equivalent requirements) or, when a full 
performance exam is not available in the applicant’s language of expertise, oral 
proficiency interviews to demonstrate functional speaking ability in English and 
the applicant’s non-English language, followed by an abbreviated oral exam. 
New rule 14.215 provides the criteria for language-skilled interpreters.  
“Language-skilled” is the designation given to court interpreters who are skilled in 
a language for which no state certification examination is available.  In addition to 
the basic requirements applicable to all three designations, applicants for the 
“language-skilled” designation must pass an oral proficiency interview to 
demonstrate functional speaking ability in English and the applicant’s non-English 
language.  A language-skilled interpreter must pass a state certification exam 
within two years of the exam becoming available. 
Revised rule 14.220 provides the requirements for provisionally approved 
interpreters.  To hold this designation an applicant must meet the general 
requirements applicable to all interpreters and make an overall score of sixty-five 
percent on the oral performance exam and no less than sixty percent on each 
 
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section, and must complete these requirements within two years of the initial 
OSCA training seminar.  Persons holding the “provisionally approved” designation 
must then complete the requirements for certification within two years of being 
provisionally approved unless granted an extension by the Board in exceptional 
circumstances. 
The amendments to rule 14.230 address renewal of designations, and 
amended rule 14.240 addresses the requirements for designated interpreters to 
maintain their credentials, including continuing education and experience 
requirements.  The rules specify the renewal periods and time limits, but the Board 
is given discretion to allow extensions of time in special circumstances, which will 
provide some flexibility in the application of the rules. 
Part III of the rules is the Code of Professional Conduct for court 
interpreters.  The code itself is unchanged, but rule 14.300 is amended to recognize 
that the code obligates not only designated interpreters but also undesignated 
interpreters working in the courts by court appointment in circumstances where no 
designated interpreters are available.  This new policy is also expressed in an 
amendment to part IV, which provides disciplinary rules and procedures.  
Amended rule 14.400 gives the Board the authority to bring disciplinary action in 
certain circumstances against court-appointed interpreters who hold no designation 
 
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from the Board if they perform interpreting services in court (due to the 
unavailability of a designated interpreter) on a regular or recurring basis. 
Rule 14.440, which addresses confidentiality in disciplinary proceedings 
involving court interpreters, is amended to make it consistent with Florida Rule of 
Judicial Administration 2.420(c)(3)(B). 
The other amendments being adopted are revisions that are necessary to 
make terminology consistent and otherwise adapt the existing rules to the new 
classification and regulatory system described above. 
CONCLUSION 
We express our gratitude to the Court Interpreter Certification Board for its 
dedication and diligence in formulating the proposals brought to us in this 
proceeding.  We adopt the proposed rule amendments as shown in the appendix to 
this opinion.  Additions are indicated by underlining.  Deletions are shown in 
struck-through type.  The amendments will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on May 1, 
2014. 
It is so ordered.  
POLSTON, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANADY, LABARGA, 
and PERRY, JJ., concur. 
 
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER THE 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS.  
 
Original Proceeding –The Court Interpreter Certification Board Committee 
 
 
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Honorable Ronald N. Ficarrotta, Chair, Court Interpreter Certification Board 
Committee, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Tampa, Florida,  
 
 
for Petitioner 
 
 
 
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APPENDIX 
 
FLORIDA RULES FOR CERTIFICATION AND REGULATION 
OF SPOKEN LANGUAGE COURT INTERPRETERS 
 
PART I.  GENERAL PROVISIONS 
 
Rule 14.100.   
Definitions 
 
(a) Certified Court Interpreter.  An interpreter who has completed the 
mandatoryall requirements as defined by these rules andfor certification in 
accordance with these rules and holds a valid certificate as a certified court 
interpreter issued by the Office of the State Courts Administrator and is named in 
the registry of certified court interpreters maintained by the Office of the State 
Courts Administrator. 
 
(b) Language Skilled.  A designation reserved for interpreters who have 
completed all requirements in accordance with these rules, but who are seeking 
certification in a spoken language for which there is no state-certifying 
examination, such persons holding a valid certificate issued by the Office of the 
State Courts Administrator. 
 
 
(c) Provisionally Approved.  A designation reserved for interpreters of 
spoken languages for which a state-certifying examination is available, who, 
although not yet certified, have passed the oral performance exam at a lesser 
qualifying prescribed level and hold a valid certificate issued by the Office of the 
State Courts Administrator. 
 
(bd) Duly Qualified Interpreter.  An interpreter whohas obtained a passing 
grade on a written examination, who has attended a two-day orientation program 
offered by the Office of the State Courts Administrator, who is familiar with Part 
III of these rules, and who has an understanding of basic legal terminology in both 
languages is certified or language skilled, or, if a certified or language skilled 
interpreter is unavailable, a provisionally approved interpreter, as these terms are 
defined under sections (a) through (c) above. 
  
(ce) Board.  The Court Interpreter Certification Board. 
 
(f) Compliance Period.  The two-year period beginning upon official 
 
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designation as a certified, language skilled, or provisionally approved court 
interpreter. 
 
 
(dg) Court.  Any county, circuit or district court of this state or the Supreme 
Court of Florida. 
 
(h) State-Certifying Examination.  A full or abbreviated board-approved  
oral performance examination designed to objectively measure whether candidates 
possess the minimum levels of language knowledge and fluency and interpreting 
skills required to perform competently during court proceedings. 
 
(i) Written Examination.  An initial qualifying or screening examination 
designed to measure a candidate’s literacy in English, familiarity with, and usage 
of, court-related terms, and/or knowledge of matters regarding interpreter ethics 
and related professional conduct. 
 
(j) Full Oral Performance Examination.  An oral examination which 
measures language knowledge and fluency in both English and non-English 
languages, as well as the ability to successfully render meaning in target and 
source languages in simultaneous interpretation, consecutive interpretation, and 
sight translation of documents. 
 
(k) Abbreviated Oral Performance Examination.  An oral examination 
assessing functional proficiency to competently interpret simultaneously in court 
from English to a non-English language, and prerequisite to which candidates must 
satisfy board-approved oral proficiency interviews in both English and non-English 
languages.  
 
(l) Oral Proficiency Interview.  A standardized language proficiency 
interview assessing functional speaking ability in both English and non-English 
languages.   
 
 
(m) Modes of Court Interpretation.  Simultaneous interpretation, 
consecutive interpretation, and sight translation of documents in a court setting. 
 
 
Rule 14.110. 
Court Interpreter Certification Board 
 
 
(a) Board Composition.  The Court Interpreter Certification Board is 
created to supervise the certificationa process by which interpreters may become 
 
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certified or otherwise duly qualified, and in accordance with which the conduct of 
all court-appointed persons engaged in foreignspoken language interpreting in the 
courts shall be governed.  The board shall be under the supervisory authority of the 
Supreme Court of Florida.  It shall be comprisedcomposed of ten persons, 
appointed by the chief justice, as follows: 
 
 
(1) two county court judges; 
 
(2) three circuit court judges; 
 
(3) three trial court administrators; and 
 
(4) twoone federally certified court interpreters; and 
(5) one state certified court interpreter. 
 
 
(b) - (d) 
[No Change] 
 
 
(e) Terms.  The initial terms of the board members shall be as follows: 
 
(1) One year:  a judicial member, a trial court administrator and an 
interpreter member; 
 
(2) Two years:  two judicial members and a trial court administrator; and 
 
(3) Three years:  two judicial members, a trial court administrator and an 
interpreter member. 
 
Following the initial terms, aAll terms shall be three years.  Members shall 
be eligible for reappointment. 
 
(f) Duties.  The duties of the board shall include: 
 
(1) thecertification, regulation, discipline, suspension, and revocation of 
certification of court interpreters; 
 
(2) designation, regulation, and discipline of language skilled and 
provisionally approved court interpreters, as well as suspension and revocation of 
designation upon failure to become certified within prescribed time frames; 
 
(3) regulation and discipline of court-appointed interpreters who, although 
neither certified nor otherwise qualified in accordance with these rules, are 
permitted to provide court interpreting services when a certified, language skilled, 
or provisionally approved interpreter is unavailable; 
 
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(24) the authority to periodically review and adopt rules governing itsnew or 
amended board operating procedures consistent with these rules; and 
 
(35) the authority to make recommendations to the supreme court regarding 
language access issues and the amendment of thesecourt rules relating to provision 
of spoken language court interpreting services; and  
 
(6) performance of such other assignments relating to provision of spoken 
language court interpreting services as may be directed by the chief justice of the 
supreme court. 
 
 
(g) Fees.  The board shall have the authority to recommend to the supreme 
court such fees as the board may deem necessary to permit it to carry out its duties, 
including, but not limited to, orientation fees, examination fees, application fees, 
and renewal fees, and late fees.  All such fees shall be made payable to the State of 
Florida and shall be non-refundable.  
 
 
(h) Records; Registry.  The board shall maintain records and minutes of its 
meetings and all other official actions.  It shall also maintain a record of all 
continuing education hours or credits earned by certified, language skilled, and 
provisionally approved court interpreters.  It shall also maintain a registryseparate 
registries containing the names, addresses, dates of certification, 
identificationdesignation number, renewal date, and geographic areas where 
services are available for each officially designated court interpreter.   
 
(i) [No Change] 
 
 
PART II.  INTERPRETER CERTIFICATIONDESIGNATIONS 
 
 
Rule 14.200. 
Qualification 
 
(a) Exclusive Designations.  Individuals providing court interpreting 
services shall be designated certified court interpreters, language skilled, or 
provisionally approved upon qualifying in accordance with these rules.  As a 
descriptive term employed in relation to the provision of court interpreting 
services, “duly qualified” refers exclusively to those persons who are certified or 
language skilled, or, if a certified or language skilled interpreter is unavailable, a 
provisionally approved interpreter. 
 
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(b) General Prerequisites.  Unless otherwise provided, Aall applicants 
completing prerequisites for certificationany of the three official state-level court 
interpreter designations must: 
 
 
(a1) as an initial prerequisite, attend a two-day orientation program 
administered by the Office of the State Courts Administrator or board-approved 
training provider; 
 
 
 
(b2) pass a written examination approved by the board, which shall include 
an ethics component; 
 
(c3) pass an oral proficiency examination approved by the board, unless they 
qualify for waiver of the examination requirement pursuant to rule 14.210submit 
an approved reporting form documenting completion of 20 hours of courtroom 
observation; 
 
(d4) take an oath to uphold the Code of Professional Conduct adopted in 
these rules;  
 
 
(e5) undergo and pass a background check ifaccording to standards 
prescribed by the board and published in board operating procedures; and 
 
 
(f6) agree to obtain hours or16 credits of continuing education as determined 
by the board from a continuing education program approved pursuant to these 
rulesby the board; and 
 
(7) submit an application for certification, language skilled, or provisionally 
approved designation and enclose an initial application fee in an amount set by the 
supreme court. 
 
 
Rule 14.205. 
Certified Court Interpreter Designation 
 
(a) Preferred Appointment.  The certified court interpreter designation 
represents the highest qualified state-level interpreter designation and shall be the 
preferred designation when selecting court-appointed interpreters, arranging for 
contractual interpreter services, and making staff hiring decisions. 
 
 
(b) Requirements.  Applicants seeking designation as a certified court 
interpreter must: 
 
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(1) pass a full oral performance examination approved by the board, unless 
qualifying for a waiver of the examination requirement under rule 14.210, or, in 
the event a full oral performance examination is unavailable, pass a board-
approved abbreviated oral examination and demonstrate functional speaking ability 
in English and non-English languages through oral proficiency interviews as a 
prerequisite to taking the abbreviated examination and qualifying for certification;  
 
 
(2) meet all general prerequisites under rule 14.200; and 
 
(3) complete the process leading to designation within two years following 
the orientation required under rule 14.200(b)(1), unless extended by the board in 
exceptional circumstances.  
 
(c) Court-Employed Interpreters.  Applicants who are selected as 
employee interpreters, but who are not certified at the time of court employment, 
shall become certified within one year of being employed in a court interpreting 
position.  The one-year requirement may be modified by the board on a case-by-
case basis, if necessary, only in exceptional circumstances. 
 
 
Rule 14.210. 
Waiver of Examination Requirement 
 
 
(a) Federal Certification.  Upon presentation of proof satisfactory to the 
board, the oral proficiencyperformance examination requirement shall be waived 
for anyone holding a federal courts certificate which is issued by the 
Administrative Office of the United States Courts and whose name appears on the 
registry of federally certified interpreters.  No other component of certification is 
waived by this rule. 
 
 
(b) Reciprocity.  Upon presentation of proof satisfactory to the board, the 
examination requirement shall be waived for anyone who has passed an equivalent 
examination in another state, if in accordance with board-approved requisites. 
  
 
Rule 14.215. 
Language Skilled Designation 
 
 
(a) Preferred Appointment.  The language skilled designation represents 
the highest qualified state-level interpreter designation next beneath full 
certification and shall be the preferred designation over non-designated interpreters 
 
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when selecting court-appointed interpreters in the area of the language skilled 
individual’s linguistic expertise. 
 
 
(b) Requirements.  Applicants skilled in a spoken language for which there 
is no state-certifying examination may seek designation as language skilled 
interpreters upon: 
 
 
(1) passing an approved oral proficiency interview in English and the non-
English language as an assessment of functional speaking ability; and 
 
(2) meeting all general prerequisites under rule 14.200. 
 
(c) Conditional Designation.  In the event a language-specific state-
certifying examination becomes available, language skilled interpreters shall be 
required to take and pass the certifying examination within two years of notice of 
its availability.  Failure to become certified within this two-year period shall result 
in loss of the language skilled designation, unless the board approves an extension 
in exceptional circumstances. 
 
 
Rule 14.220. 
Issuance of CertificateProvisionally Approved Designation 
 
 Upon satisfactory completion of the specified requirements, the board shall 
issue a certificate which shall include an identification number and date of issue.  
Once issued, the certificate shall remain renewable unless suspended or revoked by 
the board. 
 
(a) Requirements.  Individuals not yet certified in spoken languages for 
which a state-certifying examination is available, but who have taken the oral 
performance exam, may be designated as provisionally approved upon: 
 
(1) scoring a minimum 60 percent on each section of the oral exam and an 
overall 65 percent or greater;  
 
(2) meeting all general prerequisites under rule 14.200; and  
 
(3) completing the process leading to designation within two years following 
the orientation required under rule 14.200(b)(1), unless extended by the board in 
exceptional circumstances. 
  
 
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(b) Loss of Designation.  Following designation as a provisionally approved 
interpreter, if the interpreter fails to become certified within two years, or within 
one year if the individual is employed in a court interpreting position, the 
interpreter will forfeit the designation unless the board approves an extension in 
exceptional circumstances.   
 
 
Rule 14.225. 
Issuance of Certificates 
 
 
Upon satisfactory completion of the specified requirements, the board shall 
issue a certificate for each official designation which shall include a designation 
number and date of issue. 
 
 
Rule 14.230. 
Renewal of Certificates 
 
 
(a) Renewal.  Once issued, the certificate for certified court interpreters 
shall remain renewable unless suspended or revoked by the board.  The language 
skilled designation may also be renewed conditioned upon continued unavailability 
of a state-certifying examination in the language for which this designation has 
been granted.   Absent an extension of time granted only in exceptional 
circumstances, failure to become certified within two years, or one year for anyone 
employed in a court interpreting position, will result in forfeiture of a provisionally 
approved designation. 
 
 
(ab) Biennial Renewal Fee.  Each certified and language skilled court 
interpreter shall pay a biennial renewal fee in an amount set by the supreme court.  
A certificate shall be suspended automatically upon non-payment, but shall be 
reinstated upon application to the board, accompanied by payment and made 
within 60 days of the date of suspension.  Upon expiration of the 60-day grace 
period, any request for reinstatement must be made pursuant toin accordance with 
rule 14.450. 
 
 
(bc) Notification.  The board shall notify all certified, language skilled, and 
provisionally approved court interpreters in writing of the expiration date of their 
certificates at least 90 days before such date.  Notice shall be given by regular 
United States mail, directed to the last mailing address on file with the board. 
 
(d) Continued Status in Exceptional Circumstances.  If the board 
determines exceptional circumstances warrant an extension of time within which a 
 
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language skilled or provisionally approved interpreter may obtain certification, the 
interpreter will not forfeit the respective designation during the period of 
extension.  A language skilled or provisionally approved interpreter who is granted 
an extension must, in lieu of a biennial renewal fee and as a condition of 
maintaining formal designation, pay a fee in an amount proportionate to the time of 
extension. 
 
 
Rule 14.240. 
Continuing EducationMaintenance of Official Designation 
 
(a) Assignments.  Each certified, language skilled, and provisionally 
approved court interpreter shall complete 20 law-related professional interpreting 
assignments, or a lesser number of assignments totaling no fewer than 40 hours, 
every two-year compliance period.  Interpreters unable to complete this 
requirement because of a limited need for interpreting services in their language 
may be eligible, upon written request and board approval, for an extension of time 
or exemption.  Officially designated state-level court interpreters who are 
employed by the courts in court interpreting positions may, in lieu of reporting 
discrete law-related professional assignments, provide proof of court employment 
and an affidavit averring compliance with this requirement. 
  
 
(ab) RequirementContinuing Education.  Each certified, language skilled, 
and provisionally approved court interpreter shall earn 16hours or credits of 
continuing education credits as determined by the board every two-years 
compliance period.  Application for approval of thecontinuing education credit 
shall be made in writing on a continuing education reporting form 
approvedfurnished by the board.  The form shall be furnished at the same time as 
notification is mailed, andCertified and language skilled interpreters renewing 
official designation shall completed and returned completed forms to the board 
with submission of at the same time the renewal fees is submitted.  Provisionally 
approved interpreters shall submit continuing education reporting forms to the 
board with applications for certification. 
 
 
(bc) Approved Programs.  The board shall keep and maintain a list of 
approved continuing education programs.  Approval of an educational program or 
activity not listed shall be at the board’s discretion and subject to approval on a 
case-by-case basis. 
 
 
PART III.  CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT 
 
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Rule 14.300. 
Professional Conduct 
 
Each certified, language skilled, and provisionally approved court 
interpreter, as well as court-appointed individuals providing interpreting services 
because of the unavailability of officially designated state-level court interpreters, 
shall act in a professional manner in keeping with the Code of Professional 
Conduct as set forth herein.  Failure to adhere to the Code may lead to disciplinary 
action.  Disciplinary action is at the discretion of the board. 
 
 
PART IV.  DISCIPLINE 
 
Rule 14.400. 
Suspension or Revocation of CertificationApplication 
 
A certificate issued pursuant to these rules may be suspended or revoked for 
any of the following reasons: 
 
 
(a) conviction of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, 
dishonesty, or false statements; 
 
 
(b) fraud, dishonesty, or corruption which is related to the functions and 
duties of a court interpreter; 
 
 
(c) continued false or deceptive advertising after receipt of a cease and desist 
notice from the board; 
 
 
(d) gross incompetence or unprofessional or unethical conduct; 
 
(e) fraud or misrepresentation in obtaining or renewing certification; 
 
(f) noncompliance with continuing education requirements; or 
 
 
(g) nonpayment of renewal fees. 
 
 
Each certified, language skilled, and provisionally approved court 
interpreter, as well as court-appointed individuals providing spoken language 
interpreting services on a regular or recurring basis because of the unavailability of 
officially designated state-level court interpreters, shall be subject to the 
disciplinary provisions under this part. 
 
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Disciplinary action may be undertaken against a court-appointed interpreter 
holding no official state-level designation only in circumstances suggesting 
intentional disregard for impartiality or fairness of the proceeding.  A presumption 
of bias arises if, having been apprised of his or her role and having subsequently 
been cautioned by the court, an interpreter persists in altering or omitting 
statements made on the record or otherwise acts in a manner potentially 
prejudicing the proceeding. 
 
 
Rule 14.405. 
Suspension or Revocation  
 
 
A certificate issued in accordance with these rules may be suspended or 
revoked for any of the following reasons: 
 
 
(a) conviction of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, 
dishonesty, or false statements;  
 
(b) fraud, dishonesty, or corruption which is related to the functions and 
duties of a court interpreter; 
 
(c) continued false or deceptive advertising after receipt of a cease and desist 
notice from the board; 
 
(d) gross incompetence or unprofessional or unethical conduct; 
 
(e) fraud or misrepresentation in obtaining or renewing any state-level court 
interpreter designation; 
 
(f) noncompliance with rule provisions directing completion of law-related 
professional interpreting assignments or continuing education requirements; or 
 
 
(g) nonpayment of renewal or late fees. 
 
 
Rule 14.410. 
Disciplinary Procedures 
  
 
(a) [No Change] 
 
 
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(b) Facial Sufficiency.  If a majority of the investigative committee, after an 
in-person or conference call meeting, finds that the allegations, if true, would 
constitute a violation of these rules, it shall send a copy of the complaint 
identifying the rule or rules alleged to have been violated to the certified court 
interpreter by certified United States mail directed to the last mailing address on 
file with the board.  If the complaint is found to be facially insufficient, the 
complaint shall be dismissed without prejudice and the complainant and interpreter 
shall be so notified. 
 
 
(c) Response.  Within 30 days of the issuance of a finding of facial 
sufficiency, the certified court interpreter shall file a written response with the 
investigative committee.  If no response is filed, the violations identified in the 
finding of facial sufficiency shall be deemed admitted. 
 
 
(d) – (e) 
[No Change] 
 
 
(f) Hearing Panel Review.  Within 60 days after the filing of the formal 
charges, the hearing panel shall review the complaint, the finding of probable 
cause, and the response, if any, and decide whether to (i) dismiss the proceeding, 
(ii) issue a proposed disposition, or (iii) set a hearing.  The hearing panel shall 
promptly send written notice of its decision to the certified court interpreter and to 
the complainant by certified United States mail, return receipt requested. 
 
 
(g) No Hearing Demanded.  A proposed disposition issued pursuant to 
subdivision (f)(ii) shall become final unless the certified court interpreter demands 
a hearing within 30 days of the date on which it was issued. 
 
 
(h) Hearing Demanded.  If the certified court interpreter demands a hearing 
in a timely manner, the hearing shall take place no less than 30 days nor  
more than 90 days from the date of notice pursuant to subdivision (f)(iii) or of the 
court interpreter’s demand pursuant to subdivision (g). 
 
 
 
(i) Legal Representation.  The certified court interpreter may be 
represented by an attorney at any stage of the proceeding.  The court interpreter 
shall be responsible for all of his or her costs and expenses, including attorney’s 
fees. 
 
 
Rule 14.420. 
Disciplinary Hearings 
 
- 23 - 
 
 
(a) - (c) 
[No Change] 
 
 
(d) Hearing Procedure.  At the hearing, both the hearing panel and the 
certifiedcourt interpreter shall be afforded the opportunity to introduce documents 
and other relevant evidence, and to elicit sworn testimony. 
 
 
(e)  
[No change] 
 
 
(f) Finality of Decision; Rehearing.  Unless the certifiedcourt interpreter 
files a request for rehearing within 30 days of the date of the decision, the decision 
shall become final without further action.  If a timely request for rehearing is filed, 
the decision shall not become final until the request has been disposed of by  
written decision, a copy of which shall be sent to the certifiedcourt interpreter by 
certified United States mail. 
 
 
Rule 14.430. 
Disciplinary Dispositions 
 
 
(a) Burden of Proof.  If the hearing panel finds that there is clear and 
convincing evidence that the certifiedcourt interpreter has violated one or more of 
these rules, it shall impose such discipline as it may deem appropriate, consistent 
with these rules. 
 
 
 
(b) Vote Required; Notification.  All decisions of the hearing panel shall 
be by majority vote, in writing and, if adverse to the certifiedcourt interpreter, shall 
contain factual findings supporting the decision.  A copy of the decision shall be 
sent to the certified court interpreter by certified United States mail. 
 
 
(c) Sanctions.  Sanctions may consist of one or more of the following: 
 
 
(1) - (4) 
[No Change] 
 
(5) a requirement that specified continuing education courses and/or 
additional law-related professional interpreting assignments be taken 
completed within a specified period of time; 
 
(6) - (8) 
[No Change] 
 
(9) suspension of certificationofficial state-level designation for a period not 
 
- 24 - 
to exceed 1one year; or 
 
(10) revocation of certificationofficial state-level designation. 
 
 
Rule 14.440. 
Confidentiality of Disciplinary Proceedings  
 
When a disciplinary proceeding is either dismissed or results in a private 
reprimand, all records of the proceedingAll complaints alleging misconduct against 
individuals subject to disciplinary action under these rules, including the 
interpreter’s response, if any, and all other records made or received as part of the 
complaint procedure, are exempt from public disclosure under rule 2.420(c)(3)(B), 
Florida Rules of Judicial Administration, and shall remain confidential until a 
finding of probable cause or no probable cause is established; otherwise, all such 
records shall become public when the hearing panel’s decision becomes final, 
regardless of the outcome of any appeal. 
 
Rule 14.450. 
Reinstatement 
 
 
A certified court interpreter whose certificate has been suspended or revoked 
may, at any time, apply in writing for reinstatement.  Such request shall explain 
why the applicant believes that he or she should be reinstated, and shall be 
accompanied by a renewal fee in an amount set by the board.  Whether to grant or 
to deny such a request shall rest in the sole and absolute discretion of the board.  
The board may impose such conditions upon reinstatement as it deems appropriate.