Resolve, To Establish the Committee To Investigate the Feasibility of and Need for Regulation of Spoken Language Interpreters
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0909
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: EDMONDS, LA VERRIERE-BOUCHER, PENDLETON, ROTUNDO, PARADIS

Legislative Document 
No. 909 
S.P.305 
In Senate, February 20, 2003 
Resolve, To Establish the Committee To Investigate the Feasibility 
of and Need for Regulation of Spoken Language Interpreters 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator EDMONDS of Cumberland. 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Cosponsored by Representative LA VERRIERE-BOUCHER of Biddeford and 
Senators: PENDLETON of Cumberland, ROTUNDO of Androscoggin, Representative: 
PARADIS of Frenchville. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. 
Whereas, Acts 
Legislature 
do 
not 
become 
effective 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; 
and 
until 
and 
resolves 
of 
the 
days 
after 
Whereas, 
this 
resolve 
Investigate the Feasibility of 
Language Interpreters; and 
establishes 
the 
Committee 
to 
Whereas, this resolve 
to afford adequate 
time 
addressed by the committee; 
and Need for Regulation of Spoken 
is necessary as 
for 
the 
issues 
and 
an 
to 
emergency measure 
be 
appropriately 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. Committee established. Resolved: 
That the Committee to 
Investigate the Feasibility of and Need for Regulation of Spoken 
Language 
Interpreters, 
referred 
to 
in this 
resolve 
as 
"the 
committee," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Committee membership. Resolved: 
consists of 11 members appointed as follows: 
That the committee 
1. 
One member of the Senate appointed by the President of 
the Senate; 
2. 
One member of the House of Representatives appointed by 
the Speaker of the House; 
3. 
Three members appointed by the President of the Senate 
as follows: 
A. 
One 
member 
representing 
the 
Portland 
schools 
multilingual program; 
B. 
One member representing medical service providers; and 
c. 
One member representing the Catholic Charities of Maine 
Refugee and Immigration Services; 
4. 
follows: 
Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House as 
A. 
One member of Maine SAFE representing forestry workers 
in northern Maine; 
B. 
One member who is a practicing interpreter; and 
Page l-LR0986(1) 
.. 
C. 
One member representing an interpreter referral agency; 
5. 
Two members appointed by the Governor who are consumers 
of spoken language interpreting services; and 
6. 
The 
Commissioner 
of 
Professional 
and 
Financial 
Regulation, or a designee; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: 
That 
the Senate 
member 
is the 
Senate chair of the committee and the House of Representatives 
member is the House chair of the committee; and be it further 
Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of committee. Resolved: 
That 
all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the 
effective date of this resolve. 
The appointing authorities shall 
notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all 
appointments 
have 
been 
completed. 
Within 
days 
after 
appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the 
first meeting of the committee; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: 
That the committee shall examine the 
following issues concerning spoken language interpreting: 
1. 
The 
current 
state 
of 
spoken 
language 
interpreting 
throughout the State; 
2. 
The need for spoken language interpreting ~n the State; 
3. 
The potential harm to public safety if this profession 
is not regulated; and 
4. 
The costs involved in regulating the profession; and be 
it further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: 
That, upon approval of the 
Legislative Council, 
the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis 
shall provide necessary staffing services to the committee; and 
be it further 
Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: 
That the legislative members 
of the committee are entitled to the legislative per diem, 
as 
defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2, and 
reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses related to 
their attendance at authorized meetings of the committee. 
Public 
members not otherwise compensated by their employers or other 
entities 
that 
they 
represent 
are 
entitled 
to 
receive 
reimbursement 
of 
necessary expenses 
for 
their 
attendance 
at 
authorized meetings of the committee; and be it further 
Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: 
That the committee shall submit a 
report that includes its findings and recommendations, including 
suggested legislation, to the Second Regular Session of the 121st 
Legislature no later than December 10, 2003. 
The committee is 
not authorized to introduce legislation; and be it further 
Sec. 9. Extension. Resolved: 
That, if 
limited extension of time to complete 
report, it may apply to the Legislative 
an extension; and be it further 
the committee requires a 
its study and make its 
Council, which may grant 
Sec. 10. Committee budget. Resolved: 
That the chairs of the 
committee, 
with 
assistance 
from 
the 
committee 
staff, 
shall 
administer the committee's budget. 
Within 
days after its 
first meeting, 
the 
committee shall present 
a 
work 
plan 
and 
proposed budget to the Legislative Council for its approval. 
The 
committee 
may 
not 
incur 
expenses 
that would 
result in 
the 
committee's exceeding its approved budget. 
Upon request from the 
committee, the Executive Director of the Legislative Councilor 
the executive director's designee shall promptly provide 
the 
committee chairs and staff with a status report on the committee 
budget, expenditures incurred and paid and available funds. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes 
Feasibility 
of 
and 
Need 
for 
Interpreters. 
the C ommi t tee to 
Regulation 
of 
Investigate the 
Spoken 
Language 
a·