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137-22 - WA State Admin Office of the Courts - Contract Exhibit AEXHIBIT A WASHINGTON STATE LANGUAGE ACCESS INTERPRETER REIMBURSEMENT PROGRM FUNDING FUNDING CONDITIONS AND PAYMENT STRUCTURE The Language Access Reimbursement Program funding conditions and payment structure shall be as follows: GENERAL FUNDING CONDITIONS The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), will reimburse courts under this Agreement for the cost of spoken language interpretation and sign language interpretation and other goods and services that improve language access in the courts for Limited English Proficient (LEP), deaf, and hard of hearing persons. This includes interpreters credentialed by AOC (certified or registered), or otherwise court-qualified interpreters appointed pursuant to RCW 2.42 and RCW 2.43 under the following conditions listed under Section 2 “Qualifying Interpreter Events.” It also includes goods and services that improve language access, listed under Section 3 “Language Access Items,” and services listed under Section 4 “Language Access Services”. Courts shall work with AOC staff in determining whether an expense that is not explicitly mentioned below, qualifies as a reimbursable expense under the Agreement. QUALIFYING INTERPRETING EVENTS Spoken Language Interpreters Qualifying Events AOC will reimburse courts under this Agreement for the cost of appointing AOC-credentialed or otherwise court-qualified interpreters pursuant to RCW 2.43 that meet one of the following conditions: If there is at least one AOC credentialed interpreter in the language being used then reimbursement will only be provided for using an AOC credentialed interpreter who is credentialed in that language. Compensation for interpreters for languages for which neither a certified interpreter nor registered interpreter is offered will be reimbursed where the interpreter has been qualified on the record pursuant to RCW 2.43. Courts will not be reimbursed for events using non-AOC credentialed interpreters if there is one or more AOC credentialed interpreter listed for the language being used. Sign Language Interpreters Qualifying Events AOC will reimburse courts for 50% of the actual expenses for services of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters and Certified Deaf Interpreters (CDI) pursuant to RCW 2.42 when the interpreter is listed with the Department of Social and Health Services, Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSHS, ODHH) as a court-certified interpreter. The Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) at the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) maintains a list of Certified Court Sign Language Interpreters. This list includes American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters and Certified Deaf Interpreters (CDI). To qualify for reimbursement, and event using an ASL and/or CDI interpreter from this list must be used. Certified interpreters are listed under three categories: Specialist Certificate: Legal – SC: L RID Certification with SC: L written test Intermediary Interpreters (Deaf Interpreter) The most up to date list can be found here: https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/odhhapps/Interpreters/CourtInterpreter.aspx Staff Interpreters (Salaried Staff) Reimbursement will be provided for salaried staff meeting the Qualifying Event conditions for the payment of credentialed spoken and sign language interpreters, as referenced in subsections 2.A and 2.B above. Telephonic and Video Remote Interpreting and Services Outside of the Courtroom AOC will reimburse local jurisdictions for using certified, registered, or otherwise qualified interpreters operating by telephone or video for court proceedings and other services provided to the public by the Court. The services must meet the Qualifying Event conditions for the payment of credentialed spoken and sign language interpreters, as referenced in subsections 2.A and 2.B above. LANGUAGE ACCESS GOODS AND SERVICES Courts can request reimbursement for the cost of goods and services that will help increase language access in the Court. The items listed below are common goods and services that courts have used to increase language access and will be improved for reimbursement. Interpreter scheduling software or services Document translation Portable video device(s) for video remote interpreting Equipment used for simultaneous interpretation Printed signage for language assistance purposes Staff training on language access, interpreting, or bilingual skills improvement, for example: Interpreters skills training for bilingual staff who want to become certified Training for staff who are partly bilingual to improve their skills General training on addressing language access issues. Other examples can be found here: https://www.nmcenterforlanguageaccess.org/cms/en/courts- agencies/about-language-access-basic-training Items or services not listed above must be pre-approved (via email) by Language Access Interpreter Reimbursement Program staff prior to purchase or they may not qualify for reimbursement under the Program. SCOPE OF REIMBURSEMENT FUNDING Reimbursement payment under this Agreement will only be made to the Court when the cost is paid out of the budget or budgets, in the case of multi-court collaborative applicants of the Court responsible for full payment. PAYMENT STRUCTURE Reimbursement Rate Spoken Language Interpreters AOC will reimburse the Court for 50% of the cost of AOC certified, registered, or otherwise court-qualified interpreters providing services under this Agreement. Sign Language Interpreters AOC will reimburse the Court for 50% of the cost of certified and court-qualified interpreters providing services under this Agreement. Staff Interpreters (Salaried Staff) AOC will reimburse the Court for 50% of the cost of staff interpreters. Contracted Interpreters The cost of contract interpreters who are paid other than on an hourly basis, for example, on a half-day of flat rate basis, will be reimbursed at 50%. Remote Interpreting AOC will reimburse the Court for 50% of the cost of using certified, registered, or otherwise qualified interpreters providing interpretation by telephone or video. Cancellation Fees AOC will reimburse the Court for 50% of cancellation fees paid to interpreter. Travel Time and Mileage AOC will reimburse the Court at 50% of the cost of interpreter travel time and mileage. Interpreter travel time is reimbursable if a required party fails to appear. “Failure to appear” means a non-appearance by the LEP or deaf or hard of hearing client, attorneys, witnesses, or any necessary party to a hearing, thereby necessitating a cancellation or continuance of the hearing. The Court can be reimbursed for 50% of the cancellation fees paid to the interpreter.