§ 8-912 — Interpreter for the deaf and hard of hearing's privilege

(a) An "interpreter for the deaf and hard of hearing" is a person who aids communication when at least one party to the communication has a hearing loss. (b) An interpreter for the deaf and hard of hearing who interprets a conversation between a hearing person and a deaf person is deemed a conduit for the conversation and may not disclose or be compelled to disclose by subpoena the contents of the conversation that he or she facilitated without the written consent of all persons involved who received his or her professional services. (c) All communications that are recognized by law as privileged shall remain privileged even in cases where an interpreter for the deaf and hard of hearing is utilized to facilitate such communications. (d) Communications may be voluntarily disclosed under the following circumstances: (1) the formal reporting, conferring, or consulting with administrative superiors, colleagues, or consultants who share similar professional responsibility, in which instance all recipients of such information are similarly bound to regard the communication as privileged; (2) a person waives the privilege by bringing any public charges against an interpreter for the deaf and hard of hearing, including a person licensed under the Interpreter for the Deaf Licensure Act of 2007; and (3) a communication reveals the intended commission of a crime or harmful act and such disclosure is judged necessary by the interpreter for the deaf and hard of hearing to protect any person from a clear, imminent risk of serious mental or physical harm or injury or to forestall a serious threat to public safety. (e) (Blank).

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 95-617, eff. 9-12-07; 96-552, eff. 1-1-10.)