Florida

Language Access Coordinator Contact
Lisa Bell, Senior Court Operations Consultant
Court Interpreter Certification and Regulation Program, Office of the State Courts Administrator
Florida Supreme Court Building
500 South Duval St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1900
Phone: 850-922-5107
Email: interpreters@flcourts.org
Website

Code of Ethics

Language Access Plan

Interpreter Statutes and Rules:

Florida rules governing spoken language court interpreters:

  • Florida Rules for Certification and Regulation of Spoken Language Court Interpreters.
  • Rule 2.560, Florida Rules of Judicial Administration governs appointment of spoken language court interpreters;
  • Rule 2.565, Florida Rules of Judicial Administration governs retention of spoken language court interpreters by attorneys or self-represented litigants

Florida law governing spoken language interpreters for LEP persons:

  • Section 90.606(1)(a), Florida Statutes

Florida rules governing interpreters for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing:

  • Rule 2.540, Florida Rules of Judicial Administration

Florida law governing interpreters for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing:

  • Section 90.6063(2)
  • Section 90.606(1)(a)
  • Section 901.245
Coordination/Supervision of Interpreters: Spoken language court interpreters are credentialed at the state level. Court interpreters (spoken language interpreters and interpreters for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing) are supervised and/or coordinated at the trial court and appellate court levels.

Cost of Interpreter Services (including fees to freelance and salaries of staff interpreters): Unknown

Budget for Language Access Program (not including direct interpreter services): Average allocation, based on last two fiscal years administration of the Court Interpreter Certification and Regulation Program, is $153,248 annually.

Funding for Language Access Program: The Court Interpreter Certification and Regulation Program, which governs the regulation of spoken language court interpreters, is funded through program participant fees [does not include full-time employee salaries and benefits, direct interpreting services, or remote interpreting technology expenses].

Compensation Range for Salaried Interpreters (spoken language):

* Court Interpreter – (Non-Certified): $49,500.00 * Court Interpreter – (Certified): $55,000.00 to $99,000.00 * Supervising Court Interpreter – (Certified): $61,906.04 to $111,430.87 * Supervising Court Interpreter – (Non-Certified): 10% below minimum * Assistant Supervising Court Interpreter – (Certified): $57,500.00 to $103,500.00 * Assistant Supervising Court Interpreter – (Non-Certified): 10% below minimum *Competitive Area Differential (CAD) for those working in the Miami-Dade area: $5000.00/annually (for all classifications)
Compensation Range for Salaried Interpreters (sign language): N/A

Compensation Range for Freelance Interpreters (certified spoken language):

Florida has a decentralized state courts system. As such, there is no standard compensation rate for freelance spoken language court interpreters. Contract court interpreters shall be paid rates not to exceed those delineated below. Rates exceeding the maximum may be paid in extenuating circumstances as approved by the Chief Judge of the circuit.

Certified Spoken Language Interpreters (per the Florida Rules for Certification and Regulation of Court Interpreters):

  • Spanish                                  $60 per hour (2 hour minimum with ¼ hour increments thereafter)
  • Haitian Creole                        $90 per hour (2 hour minimum with ¼ hour increments thereafter)
  • Other Spoken Languages      $120 per hour (2 hour minimum with ¼ hour increments thereafter)
  • Written Translations               $60 per page (8.5” by 11” page)

Non-Certified Interpreters

  • Spanish                                  $45 per hour (2 hour minimum with ¼ hour increments thereafter)
  • Haitian Creole                        $75 per hour (2 hour minimum with ¼ hour increments thereafter)
  • Other Spoken Languages      $90 per hour (2 hour minimum with ¼ hour increments thereafter)
  • Written Translations               $35 per page (8.5” by 11” page)

Compensation Range for Freelance Interpreters (certified sign language):

Florida has a decentralized state courts system. As such, there is no standard compensation rate for freelance spoken language court interpreters. Contract court interpreters shall be paid rates not to exceed those delineated below. Rates exceeding the maximum may be paid in extenuating circumstances as approved by the Chief Judge of the circuit.

Certified American Sign Language interpreters and all other types of interpreters for persons with hearing loss (per the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf/National Association of the Deaf):

  • Specialist Certificate: Legal            $100 per hour
    • Other Certifications              $75 per hour

Non-Certified Interpreters:

  • American Sign Language and all other types of interpreters for persons with hearing loss: $70 per hours (2 hour minimum with 1/4 hour increments thereafter)
Difference in Pay between Spanish and LOTS interpreters: See above
Dates and Locations of Testing and Training: Unknown
Additional Information:
Recruitment Brochure