<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".20" citation="COMAR 14.30.08.20" title_num="14" subtitle_num="30" chapter_num="08" heading="Appointment of Interpreter.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>If a party or witness cannot readily hear, speak, or understand the spoken or written English language, on motion timely submitted, the Board, the Executive Director, or the presiding hearing officer, as appropriate, shall appoint a qualified interpreter to provide assistance during the hearing.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>An interpreter shall take an oath or affirmation that the interpreter will accurately translate.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The party requesting the interpreter shall bear the cost of the interpreter, unless the party or witness is hearing-impaired.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Waiver of Cost of the Interpreter.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A party who by reason of indigence is unable to pay the cost of the interpreter may file a request for waiver of that cost with the presiding hearing officer. The waiver request shall be accompanied by an affidavit verifying the facts set forth in the request and the applicant’s inability to pay.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If the presiding hearing officer is satisfied that the applicant is unable by reason of indigence to pay the cost of the interpreter, the presiding hearing officer may waive the payment of cost, with the cost paid by the Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A waiver of the cost of an interpreter shall be available only to an individual applicant and not to a group or other entity.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>