BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2656
87R3093 ANG-D	By: Moody (Blanco)
	Jurisprudence
	5/18/2021
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Examinations for court interpreter licensing are required to be offered at least twice a year and at places designated by the administrative director of the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System. These examinations are currently being offered only in person in Austin, which creates a barrier of entry to the profession for people who do not live in and around Austin.

H.B. 2656 seeks to remove this barrier by requiring examinations to be offered either in person in each county with a population of 800,000 or more or in places designated by the administrative director, if any, and online.

H.B. 2656 amends current law relating to licensing examinations for certain court interpreters.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 157.103(c), Government Code, as follows:

(c) Requires that examinations that test an applicant's knowledge, skill, and efficiency in interpreting under Chapter 157 (Court Interpreters Licensing) be offered:

(1) in person in each county with a population of 800,000 or more at least once a year, rather than in the state at least twice a year, at times and places designated by the administrative director of the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System (director); or

(2) in person at times and places designated by the director, if any, and online at least twice a year at times designated by the director.

SECTION 2. Effective date: January 1, 2022.