Development of Credentialing Requirements for ASL Generalist Interpreters

Description

The Judicial Council of California (“Judicial Council”) is the policymaking body of the California court system, which includes 58 superior courts, the courts of appeal, and the Supreme Court. Under the authority of the state’s Constitution and with the leadership of the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, the Judicial Council is responsible for ensuring the fair, impartial, and consistent administration of justice. The Judicial Council recommends improvements to the courts, adopts rules and procedures for court administration, and makes recommendations annually to the Governor and the Legislature. Judicial Council staff assist the Judicial Council with implementing policies and supporting court operations.

Within the Judicial Council’s Center for Families, Children, and the Courts, the Language Access Services Program (LASP) works to develop policies and provide services to ensure equal access to justice for court users who are limited English proficient or deaf/hearing-impaired. LASP is comprised of the Court Interpreters Program (CIP) unit and the Language Access Implementation (LAI) unit. CIP works on court interpreter issues, and LAI works on making the courts more language accessible via resources such as signage, technology, and translated forms.

On November 17, 2023, to address the current shortage of ASL court interpreters, the Judicial Council approved the Texas Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) as an approved testing entity for ASL court interpreter certification for a period of at least four years to expand the number of available ASL court interpreters. Effective January 1, 2024, ASL court interpreters with the Texas BEI Court Interpreter Certification may apply to CIP to be added to the Judicial Council Master List of Certified Court and Registered Interpreters.

The Judicial Council seeks the services of a Contractor with experience to assist the Language Access Services Program with research and developing recommendations for a proposal to certify persons with ASL generalist credentials to perform work in the California courts.

Questions regarding this RFP must be directed to solicitations@jud.ca.gov and must be received no later than 1:00 P.M. PST, March 11, 2024. Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the instructions in the RFP.

Proposals are due by 1:00 P.M. PST, on April 5, 2024. Further details regarding the solicitation are set forth in the RFP and related documents are provided below