article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``State Court Interpreter Grant Program Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds that-- (1) the fair administration of justice depends on the ability of all participants in a courtroom proceeding to understand that proceeding, regardless of their English proficiency; (2) 18 percent of the population of the United States over 5 years of age speaks a language other than English at home; (3) only qualified court interpreters can ensure that persons with limited English proficiency comprehend judicial proceedings in which they are a party; (4) the knowledge and skills required of a qualified court interpreter differ substantially from those required in other interpretation settings, such as social service, medical, diplomatic, and conference interpreting; (5) the Federal Government has demonstrated its commitment to equal administration of justice regardless of English proficiency; (6) Executive Order 13166, issued August 11, 2000, requires Federal Agencies, including courts, to improve access for persons who have limited English proficiency; (7) 29 States have developed, or are developing, court interpreting programs; (8) robust, effective court interpreter programs-- (A) actively recruit skilled individuals to be court interpreters; (B) train those individuals in the interpretation of court proceedings; (C) develop and use a thorough, systematic certification process for court interpreters; (D) have sufficient funding to ensure that a qualified interpreter will be available to the court whenever necessary; and (9) Federal funding is necessary to-- (A) encourage States that do not have court interpreter programs to develop them; (B) assist States with nascent court interpreter programs to implement them; (C) assist States with limited court interpreter programs to enhance them; and (D) assist States with robust court interpreter programs to make further improvements and share successful programs with other States. SEC. 3. STATE COURT INTERPRETER PROGRAM. (a) Grants Authorized.-- (1) In general.--The Administrator of the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice (referred to in this section as the ``Administrator'') shall make grants, in accordance with such regulations as the Attorney General may prescribe, to States to develop and implement programs to assist individuals with limited English proficiency to access and understand State court proceedings in which they are a party. (2) Technical assistance.--The Administrator shall allocate, for each fiscal year, $500,000 of the amount appropriated pursuant to section 4 to be used to establish a court interpreter technical assistance program to assist States receiving grants under this Act. (b) Use of Grants.--Grants awarded pursuant to subsection (a) may be used by States to-- (1) assess regional language demands; (2) develop a court interpreter program for the State; (3) develop, institute, and administer language certification examinations; (4) recruit, train, and certify qualified court interpreters; (5) pay for salaries, transportation, and technology necessary to implement the court interpreter program developed pursuant to paragraph (2); and (6) engage in other related activities, as prescribed by the Attorney General. (c) Application.--Each State desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Administrator at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Administrator may reasonably require. (d) State Allotments.-- (1) Base allotment.--From amounts appropriated for each fiscal year pursuant to section 4, the Administrator shall allocate $100,000 to each State, which has an application approved under subsection (c). (2) Discretionary allotment.--From amounts appropriated for each fiscal year pursuant to section 4, the Administrator shall allocate a total of $5,000,000 to the States that have extraordinary needs that must be addressed in order to develop, implement, or expand a State court interpreter program. (3) Additional allotment.--In addition to the allocations made under paragraphs (1) and (2), the Administrator shall allocate to each State, which has an application approved under subsection (c), an amount equal to the product reached by multiplying-- (A) the unallocated balance of the amount appropriated for each fiscal year pursuant to section 4; and (B) the ratio between the number of people over 5 years of age who speak a language other than English at home in the State and the number of people over 5 years of age who speak a language other than English at home in all the States that receive an allocation under paragraph (1), as those numbers are determined by the Bureau of the Census. SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2008 to carry out this Act.
summary: State Court Interpreter Grant Program Act - Directs the Administrator of the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice to: (1) make grants to States to develop and implement programs to assist individuals with limited English proficiency to access and understand State court proceedings in which they are a party; and (2) allocate specified funds to establish a court interpreter technical assistance program to assist States receiving grants under this Act. Authorizes the use of grant awards by States to: (1) assess regional language demands; (2) develop a court interpreter program; (3) develop, institute, and administer language certification examinations; (4) recruit, train, and certify qualified court interpreters; and (5) pay for salaries, transportation, and technology necessary to implement the programs.