March 21, 2003
Re: SUPPORT FOR AB 292

Dear Assemblymember Yee:

The California Federation of Interpreters and the Bay Area Court Interpreters Association strongly support AB 292. Please list both of our organizations in support of this important legislation.

Our members provide interpretation services in court, medical, law enforcement, government and other settings. As professional interpreters we understand perhaps better than the average person the importance of accuracy and impartiality in interpretation and the serious consequences that can flow from using unskilled, untrained interpreters. Further, we have ourselves seen the frequency with which children are called upon to interpret for relatives in situations that are serious, traumatic and completely inappropriate both because the children cannot interpret accurately and because they need to be protected from such a responsibility.

AB292 is needed to encourage state-funded agencies to find alternative, appropriate sources of interpretation services. Thank you for your work on this important issue.

Sincerely,
Mary Lou Aranguren, CFI/BACI Legislative Director