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AN ACT
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relating to the licensing and appointment of court interpreters. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 57.002, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) A licensed court interpreter appointed by a court |
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under Subsection (a) or (b) must hold a license that includes the |
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appropriate designation under Section 57.043(d) that indicates the |
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interpreter is permitted to interpret in that court. |
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SECTION 2. Section 57.043, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read |
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as follows: |
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(a) The executive director shall issue a court interpreter |
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license to an applicant who: |
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(1) can interpret for an individual who can hear but |
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who does not comprehend English or communicate in English; |
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(2) passes the appropriate examination prescribed by |
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the executive director not earlier than two years before the date |
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the executive director receives the applicant's application for a |
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license; and |
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(3) possesses the other qualifications for the license |
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required by this subchapter or by rules adopted under this |
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subchapter. |
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(d) A license issued under this subchapter must include at |
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least one of the following designations: |
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(1) a basic designation that permits the interpreter |
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to interpret court proceedings in justice courts and municipal |
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courts that are not municipal courts of record, other than a |
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proceeding before the court in which the judge is acting as a |
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magistrate; or |
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(2) a master designation that permits the interpreter |
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to interpret court proceedings in all courts in this state, |
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including justice courts and municipal courts described by |
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Subdivision (1). |
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(e) In adopting rules relating to licensing under this |
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subchapter, the commission shall, after consulting with the board, |
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prescribe the minimum score an individual must achieve on an |
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examination to receive a license that includes a basic designation |
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under Subsection (d) and the minimum score an individual must |
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achieve to receive a license that includes a master designation |
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under that subsection. |
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SECTION 3. Section 57.046(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) The executive director shall prepare examinations under |
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this subchapter that test an applicant's knowledge, skill, and |
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efficiency in interpreting under this subchapter. The same |
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examinations must be used for issuing a license that includes a |
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basic designation or master designation as described by Section |
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57.043(d). |
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SECTION 4. (a) Notwithstanding Section 57.043(e), |
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Government Code, as added by this Act, and not later than December |
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1, 2011, the executive director of the Texas Department of |
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Licensing and Regulation shall issue to a person who, on September |
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1, 2011, holds a court interpreter license issued under Section |
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57.043(a), Government Code, a new court interpreter license that |
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includes a master designation described by Section 57.043(d)(2), |
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Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) Section 57.043(d), Government Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies only to a court interpreter license, other than a court |
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interpreter license issued under Subsection (a) of this section, |
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that is initially issued under Section 57.043(a), Government Code, |
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on or after September 1, 2011, and to the subsequent renewal of that |
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license. |
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(c) Section 57.002(b-1), Government Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies only to the appointment of a licensed court |
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interpreter on or after January 1, 2012. An appointment before that |
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date is governed by the law in effect on the date the appointment |
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was made, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 4445 was passed by the House on May |
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15, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 4445 on May 29, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 136, Nays 0, |
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2 present, not voting; and that the House adopted S.C.R. No. 82 |
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authorizing certain corrections in H.B. No. 4445 on June 1, 2009, by |
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the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, 1 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 4445 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 25, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays |
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0; and that the Senate adopted S.C.R. No. 82 authorizing certain |
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corrections in H.B. No. 4445 on June 1, 2009 by the following |
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vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |