MN HF3012

State courts must include compensation rate increases for contract court interpreters at the same rate as across-the-board increases for state employee interpreters in the judicial branch, effective July 1, 2014, for all new or renewed contracts.

The Supreme Court must pay eligible contract court interpreters a lump-sum back pay amount equal to the cost-of-living adjustments that staff interpreters received from 2000 (or initial contract date, whichever is later) through 2013.

Contract court interpreter compensation rates must be set equivalent to salaried hourly rates for staff court interpreters employed by the judicial branch, with rates never lowered from current levels.

Amends Minnesota Statutes section 480.182 to include contract court interpreter placement and hiring costs as court-related expenses paid by the state.

Appropriates an unspecified amount from the general fund to the Supreme Court in fiscal year 2015 to cover costs associated with back pay and compensation adjustments.