H.B. No. 4445

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