Explanation
BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Administrative Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court to accept a grant in the amount of $25,950.00 from The Supreme Court of Ohio, and to appropriate from the unappropriated balance of the general government grant fund to the Franklin County Municipal Court, the total amount of the grant. This grant will fund the purchase of a mobile video interpretation unit. Franklin County and the City of Columbus have a large population of people with limited English proficiency, and the population is expected to continue to grow. The Court currently employs 2 full-time Spanish interpreters, as well as a full-time Somali interpreter, has contracts with 3 local interpreter agencies to provide additional interpreters or interpreters for other languages, and has access to LanguageLine. However, the number of cases requiring a telephonic interpreter are growing and are increasingly difficult to facilitate, particularly if multiple interpreters are necessary in a hearing.
The mobile video interpreting cart would be a benefit to all of the judges in all of the regular and arraignment courtrooms, especially when the Court has no advance notice that an interpreter may be required. The technology also allows for confidential conversations between parties and attorneys with an interpreter.
FISCAL IMPACT
No general fund resources are needed.
Emergency Justification: The Court seeks approval to amend this ordinance to emergency in order to remain in compliance with the terms of the grant.
Title
To authorize and direct the Administrative Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court to accept a grant award from The Supreme Court of Ohio; to appropriate $25,950.00 from the unappropriated balance of the general government grant fund to the Franklin County Municipal Court, and to declare an emergency. ($25.950.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is in the city's best interest that the Franklin County Municipal Court upgrade the t...
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