Issue: Offset of Federal Tax Returns to Collect Fines Fees and Restitution
Impact: Approval of this legislation would allow states to access federal funds to support state court interpreter programs in areas such as certification, training or general support.
Position: State court leaders endorse the concept of a federal court interpreter program assisting the state courts.
Summary: Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI) introduced legislation, which would authorize a grant program to support court interpreter efforts in the states (S 702). The bill would authorize $15M in each of the fiscal years 2008-2012. The Department of Justice would award the grants. The grant program follows the model of the Court Improvement Program. The highest state court of each state would be eligible to apply for the funds. States applying for the grant would receive a base amount of $100,000. The remainder of the funds in the appropriated pool would be distributed to the states applying for funds based on the percentage of individuals (5 years or older) who speak other than English at home.
Status: Senator Kohl reintroduced this bill (S 702) on February 28, 2007. Additionally, he received assurances from the leadership that his bill will remain in the immigration reform legislation from last year, which will also be reintroducedSenator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) reintroduced the Immigration Reform bill as the “base” bill as a starting point for the debate. This bill contained our court interpreter provision.HR 1645, the companion House Immigration Reform measure, was introduced by Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) on 3/22/07. It contains the Court Interpreter Assistance provision as it appeared in S 2611 during the last Congress.S 702 was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on 4/24/08 by a vote of 14-5. Senator Kohl is attempting to place this legislation on the Senate Calendar for consideration. He is asking for the state court community to contact their senators and urge them to co-sponsor this bill. We are anticipating that Senator Kohl will re-introduce his legislation in the 111th Congress.
Senator Kohl reintroduced this bill (S 702) on February 28, 2007. Additionally, he received assurances from the leadership that his bill will remain in the immigration reform legislation from last year, which will also be reintroduced
Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) reintroduced the Immigration Reform bill as the “base” bill as a starting point for the debate. This bill contained our court interpreter provision.
HR 1645, the companion House Immigration Reform measure, was introduced by Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) on 3/22/07. It contains the Court Interpreter Assistance provision as it appeared in S 2611 during the last Congress.
S 702 was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on 4/24/08 by a vote of 14-5. Senator Kohl is attempting to place this legislation on the Senate Calendar for consideration. He is asking for the state court community to contact their senators and urge them to co-sponsor this bill. We are anticipating that Senator Kohl will re-introduce his legislation in the 111th Congress.