H.B. No. 1642




AN ACT
relating to the appointment of interpreters for judicial proceedings. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 57.002, Government Code, is amended by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows: (c) Subject to Subsection (e), in [In] a county with a population of less than 50,000, a court may appoint a spoken language interpreter who is not a certified or licensed court interpreter. (d) Subject to Subsection (e), in a county with a population of 50,000 or more, a court may appoint a spoken language interpreter who is not a certified or licensed court interpreter if: (1) the language necessary in the proceeding is a language other than Spanish; and (2) the court makes a finding that there is no licensed court interpreter within 75 miles who can interpret in the language that is necessary in a proceeding. (e) A person appointed under Subsection (c) or (d) [and who]: (1) must be [is] qualified by the court as an expert under the Texas Rules of Evidence; (2) must be [is] at least 18 years of age; and (3) may [is] not be a party to the proceeding. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to the appointment of a court interpreter under Chapter 57, Government Code, as amended by this Act, on or after the effective date of this Act. The appointment of a court interpreter before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the interpreter was appointed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 1642 was passed by the House on April 20, 2005, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 1642 was passed by the Senate on May 24, 2005, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor