(a) Each trial court shall offer to employ as a court interpreter pro tempore each interpreter who meets all of the following criteria:

(1) The interpreter is certified or registered.

(2)The interpreter has provided services to the same trial court as an independent contractor on at least either:

(A) Thirty court days or parts of court days in both calendar year 2001 and calendar year 2002.

(B) Sixty court days or parts of court days in calendar year 2002.

(3) The interpreter has applied for the position of court interpreter pro tempore prior to July 1, 2003, and has complied with reasonable requirements for submitting an application and providing documentation.

(4) The interpreter’s application is not rejected by the trial court for cause.

(b) Each trial court shall begin accepting applications for court interpreters pro tempore by no later than May 1, 2003. Court interpreters who qualify for employment pursuant to this section shall receive offers of employment within 30 days after an application is submitted. Applicants shall have at least 15 days to accept or reject an offer of employment. The hiring process for applicants who accept the offer of employment shall be completed within 30 days after acceptance, but the trial court need not set employment to commence prior to July 1, 2003.

(c) For purposes of this section, “for cause” means a fair and honest cause or reason regulated by good faith on the part of the party exercising the power.

(d) Unless the parties to a dispute agree upon other procedures after the dispute arises, or other procedures are provided in a memorandum of understanding or agreement with a recognized employee organization, disputes about whether this section has been violated during the regional transition period shall be resolved by binding arbitration through the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service.

(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 257, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2004.)