Nebraska
Language Access Coordinator Contact
Kathleen Valle
Administrative Office of Courts & Probation
PO Box 98910
Lincoln, NE 68509 -8910
Phone: (402) 219-1846
Email
Website
Code of Ethics or Rules of Professional Conduct
Interpreter Statutes and Rules: Neb. Rev. Stat §25-2401 to 25-2407 and §20-150 to 20-159
Coordination/Supervision of Interpreters: Director of Language Access supervises Nebraska State Court Interpreter Coordinators and Language Access Scheduler, who have primary responsibility for scheduling court interpreters. In addition the Nebraska State Court Interpreter Coordinators provide interpreter services in their assigned home court. As independent contractors, individual court interpreters are not directly supervised by Language Access Program staff. All Nebraska court interpreters may be subject to disciplinary action for failure to abide by the Interpreter Code of Ethics and Supreme Court Rules on Interpreters. Director of Language Access appointed to Nebraska Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission in January 2021.
Cost of Interpreter Services (including fees to freelance an salaries of staff interpreters): Freelance interpreter services $1,200,000.00
Budget for Language Access Program (not including direct interpreter services): Unknown
Funding for Language Access Program: Legislative appropriation
Compensation Range for Salaried Interpreters (spoken language): Salaried program employees have both coordination and interpretation duties. This state does not have any salaried interpreters.
Compensation Range for Salaried Interpreters (sign language): N/A
Compensation Range for Freelance Interpreters (certified spoken language): Certified interpreters: $50.00 per hour with a 2-hour minimum each morning and afternoon - additional interpreter services billed in 15-minute increments, plus mileage if 15 or more miles traveled one way, and travel time at 80% of interpreting rate if miles traveled for one day is over 50 miles. Non-certified interpreters: $35.00 per hour with a 2-hour minimum each morning and afternoon - additional interpreter services billed in 15-minute increments, plus mileage if 15 or more miles traveled one way, and travel time at 80% of interpreting rate if miles traveled for one day is over 50 miles.
Compensation Range for Freelance Interpreters (certified sign language): $50.00 per hour with a 2-hour minimum each morning and afternoon - additional interpreter services billed in 15-minute increments, plus mileage if 15 or more miles traveled one way, and travel time at 80% of interpreting rate if miles traveled for one day is over 50 miles.
Difference in Pay between Spanish and LOTS Interpreters: No statutory or rule difference in payment for Spanish or other languages.
Minimum Certification Requirements: * Completion of 2-day in-person Nebraska Court Interpreter Orientation Workshop taught in-house by Language Access Team * Interpreter Written Exam Score of 80% or higher * Interpreter Oral Exam Scores of 70% or higher on each of 3 exam sections