N.M. 3rd Jud. Dist. Court Interpreter Standards of Practice and Payment Policies 6

staying overnight on the assignment for your court, the interpreter or the

court must contact Pam Sánchez, aocpjs@nmcourts.gov, or 505-827-4822,

for approval. The overnight expenses worksheet and directions can be found

at:

Worksheet: http://www.nmcourts.gov/newface/court-interp/guidelinesandpolicies/travel_expense_worksheet.pdf

Instructions: http://www.nmcourts.gov/newface/court-interp/guidelinesandpolicies/overnight_expense_reimbursement_reques

t.pdf

Prior approval is required for reimbursement of overnight expenses for

all interpreters.

Attachment B

Instructions for Identifying, Scheduling and Paying

Out-of-State Interpreters

New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts

INSTRUCTIONS

IDENTIFYING, SCHEDULING, AND PAYING OUT-OF-STATE INTERPRETERS

(TELEPHONIC OR IN-PERSON)

IDENTIFYING AND SCHEDULING THE INTERPRETER

1. If you need an interpreter in a language other than Spanish and there is not an

interpreter listed in the Directory or the interpreter listed is not available, please contact

Pam Sánchez, aocpjs@nmcourts.gov, or 505-827-4822. She will provide you with

names and contact information of certified or qualified court interpreters in other

states.

2. Depending on the nature and length of the proceeding for which the interpreter is

needed, you may be asked to consult with the judge regarding approval for the

interpreter to appear telephonically or AOC may approve the use of Certified Languages

International (CLI).

3. If none of the interpreters on the list provided by AOC is available when needed, please

contact AOC again. Contact information for additional interpreters will be provided or,

if none are available, it may be necessary to reschedule the proceeding in order to make

arrangements with an interpreter on the original list.

4. When you have identified and scheduled the interpreter from the list provided, discuss

the New Mexico nterpreter fees with the interpreter. NM rates are $30.00 per hour for

travel time and $46.00 per hour for interpreting time.

5. Often out-of-state interpreters in languages of lesser difussion charge more than this or

require half or full-day guarantees. If the interpreter requests more, let them know that

you will have to secure AOC's approval. Then contact Pam Sánchez for approval. She

will either approve the rate or she may call the interpreter directly to negotiate a better

rate.

6. Once AOC has confirmed the fee and approved the appointment of the interpreter, you

will receive a written confirmation notice, which must be placed in the case file. When

you have received the confirmation notice, you can notify the interpreter and proceed.

NM AOC 8.23.2011 1

MAKING TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS AND PAYING THE INTERPRETER

1. All interpreters in-state or out-of-state should submit their bill on the Interpreter Invoice

Form included in the 2011 Interpreter Payment Policies and Procedures. (Link in #4

below)

2. All interpreters must have a New Mexico Vendor ID # before their invoice for payment

can be processed. Please inform the interpreter that in order to be paid they need to

proceed to secure this number as soon as possible by contacting Heather Nash, at

aochal@nmcourts.gov.

3. If the interpreter(s) will be traveling by commercial transportation and/or staying

overnight on the assignment for your court, please follow these steps. As questions

come up, please feel free to contact Pam Sanchez, or if she is not available, Georgia Vigil

with questions or concerns.

a. You should already have AOC’s approval because you’ve contacted AOC regarding

the need to find and schedule an interpreter from out-of-state.

b. Either you or the interpreter can make the necessary travel arrangements. Either

way, the DFA travel requirements must be followed. Please see attached.

c. It is possible for the court to make the air and hotel arrangements. Just be sure to

confirm that the related charges can be billed directly to the court via a Purchase

Order. This means the hotel must already have a state vendor identification number.

All travel expenses will be reimbursed by the Jury Witness Fund. Magistrate Courts,

please get in touch with Georgia Vigil, aocgav@nmcourts.gov, regarding the

purchase order request, prior to reservations being made. District Courts’ Finance

staff should prepare the purchase document and then contact Lydia Romero,

aoclmr@nmcourts.gov for purchase order approval.

d. Do not make airline reservations until you have secured a purchase order from

Georgia Vigil, aocgav@nmcourts.gov (Magistrate Courts) or secured P.O. approval

from Lydia Romero, aoclmr@nmcourts.gov (District Courts). Airline tickets should be

refundable in case the proceeding is canceled or continued. If the court is making

the airline reservations, please use either Aquila Travel (505-828-9113/800 595-

6257) or International Tours & Cruises (Albuquerque) (1-888-303-8687).

e. The court can usually best determine the most convenient hotel. Just make sure

when making the reservation that the hotel will take a PO and also be sure to note

the cancellation deadline so that, should the proceeding not be held as scheduled,

the hotel can be canceled without charge. Again, contact Georgia Vigil,

NM AOC 8.23.2011 2

NM AOC 8.23.2011 3

aocgav@nmcourts.gov to secure a purchase order prior to making hotel

reservations.

4. The following are links to the itemized expense worksheet, instructions for submitting

requests for travel expense reimbursement, and the interpreter invoice.

Worksheet: http://www.nmcourts.gov/newface/court-interp/guidelinesandpolicies/travel_expense_worksheet.pdf

Instructions: http://www.nmcourts.gov/newface/court-interp/guidelinesandpolicies/overnight_expense_reimbursement_request.pdf

Invoice: http://www.nmcourts.gov/newface/court-interp/guidelinesandpolicies/FinalInvoiceJan2011.xlsx

Attachment C

Continuing Education Policy and Form

Background Check Policy and Waiver

Continuing Education Requirements

for

Certified Court Interpreters and Justice System Interpreters

I. Purpose

Becoming and remaining a skilled interpreter in the courtroom is an ongoing process that is

not completed with certification. Certified interpreters should always be working to

improve their legal knowledge, their English language and grammar skills, and their

language and grammar skills in their certified language.

In order to promote and enhance this continuing education process the New Mexico

Supreme Court Interpreter Advisory Committee has adopted these continuing education

rules that apply to all New Mexico interpreters, and all federally certified interpreters who

seek reimbursement at the state certified or justice system interpreter rates.

II. Reporting Requirements

A. This Continuing Education rule becomes effective January 1, 2009. The

deadline for reporting completion of required continuing education will be

December 31st each year.

B. All certified and justice system interpreters must fulfill these continuing education

requirements. If these requirements are not met, the interpreter will be

reimbursed at the non-certified rate until these requirements are met.

C. All newly certified interpreters shall have until December 31st of the year after

certification to fulfill his or her initial continuing education requirement. After

that initial education period, the newly certified interpreter will complete the

continuing education each year by December 31st.

D. The Administrative Office of the Courts will prepare and distribute standard

reporting forms to use when reporting continuing education. All continuing

education documentation shall be mailed or faxed to:

Administrative Office of the Courts Interpreter

Services Continuing Education 237 Don Gaspar,

Room 25Santa Fe, NM 87501 505 824-4824 (fax)

E. The certified interpreter shall provide adequate documentation of successful

completion of the continuing education requirement. Documentation may include

certificate of completion, transcript or grade report, or proof of membership and

meeting attendance.

III. Annual Continuing Education Requirements

Membership in a Professional Interpreter Association

Each certified interpreter shall belong to at least one professional association

related to interpreting. Qualified organizations include:

1. American Translators Association www.atanet.org

2. National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators www.najit.org

3. New Mexico Translators and Interpreters Association w.cybermesa.com/~nmtia

4. El Paso Interpreters and Translators Association www.metroplexepita.org

5. Navajo Interpreters Association (NIA)

6. The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (for signed language interpreters only) www.rid.org