A person who is deaf who is a party to, or a witness in, any legal proceeding shall have a right to a qualified interpreter of deaf sign-language and the court shall appoint such an interpreter to interpret the proceedings to, and the testimony of, a person who is deaf. The fee for an interpreter shall be fixed by the court in its discretion. In criminal actions, fees shall be paid out of funds provided by law or by the government as the court may direct. In civil actions, fees shall be paid out of funds provided by law or by 1 or more of the parties as the court may direct and may be taxed ultimately as costs, in the discretion of the court.