Language access providers

AN ACT Relating to language access providers; and adding a new 1
section to chapter 39.26 RCW. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 39.26 4
RCW to read as follows: 5
(1) For interpreter services procured under RCW 39.26.300:6
(a) The contracting department shall, either directly or through 7
contracts with third parties, ensure that language access providers 8
are fully compensated within 30 days of submission of a complete and 9
valid invoice or other appropriate record to the department or 10
contracted third party regarding the provision of spoken language 11
interpreter services; 12
(b) The contracting department may not recoup any funds paid to a 13
language access provider or otherwise bill a language access provider 14
for spoken language interpreter services on the basis of a subsequent 15
determination that a public assistance applicant or recipient, 16
injured worker, or crime victim is ineligible for benefits under 17
Title 51 or 74 RCW; 18
(c) The contracting department may not limit the daily amount of 19
time for which language access providers may be paid for provision of 20
spoken language interpreter services; 21
H-1708.1
HOUSE BILL 2032
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representative Schmidt
Read first time 03/03/25. Referred to Committee on State Government
& Tribal Relations.
p. 1 HB 2032
(d) The contracting department may not require language access 1
providers, as a condition of providing spoken language interpreter 2
services, to register with any database or registry which publishes 3
their personal contact information online; and 4
(e) The contracting department shall adopt rules for:5
(i) Providing compensation to a language access provider in the 6
event an appointment for which a language access provider has been 7
scheduled to provide services is canceled or the injured worker or 8
crime victim fails to appear; and 9
(ii) Providing a language access provider with a mileage 10
reimbursement for distance traveled for a scheduled appointment to 11
provide services, which must be at least the business standard 12
mileage rate determined by the internal revenue service.13
(2) If the contracting department pays a language access provider 14
less than the amounts to which such language access provider is 15
entitled under this section, it is liable to the language access 16
provider for the full amount due to such language access provider 17
under this section, less any amount actually paid to such language 18
access provider by the department, plus reasonable attorneys' fees 19
and costs, as may be allowed by the court. 20
(3) For the purposes of this section: 21
(a) "Contracting department" refers to any department authorized 22
to purchase interpreter services or otherwise purchasing such 23
services under RCW 39.26.300 including, but not limited to, the 24
department of labor and industries, the department of social and 25
health services, the department of children, youth, and families, the 26
department of enterprise services, or the health care authority.27
(b) "Language access provider" has the same meaning as provided 28
in RCW 41.56.030. 29
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p. 2 HB 2032