Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 966	Senate Author:  West
Effective:  See below	House Sponsor:  Perry

            Senate Bill 966 amends the Government Code to create the Judicial Branch Certification Commission as an entity in the judicial branch of government. The commission is established to oversee regulatory programs assigned to it by state law or by the Supreme Court of Texas and is administratively attached to the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System. To consolidate the regulation of the judicial profession, the bill abolishes the Court Reporters Certification Board, the Guardianship Certification Board, and the process server review board and transfers the powers, duties, functions, programs, and activities of the abolished boards and of the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation related to licensed court interpreters to the Judicial Branch Certification Commission. The bill establishes the Court Reporters Certification Advisory Board, Guardianship Certification Advisory Board, Process Server Certification Advisory Board, and licensed court interpreter advisory board as advisory boards to the Judicial Branch Certification Commission. The commission is subject to the Texas Sunset Act but is not abolished under that act.

Among other provisions, Senate Bill 966 provides for the composition and administration of the commission; establishes the commission's powers and duties; sets out certain certification, registration, and licensing requirements; establishes the commission's enforcement powers, including the authority to impose administrative penalties; and requires the commission to set fees to cover the costs of administering the commission's programs or activities.

Senate Bill 966 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure, Education Code, Estates Code, Government Code, Human Resources Code, and Tax Code to make conforming changes.

In provisions effective September 1, 2013, Senate Bill 966 requires the supreme court to appoint the initial commission members and to adopt rules, procedures, and forms for the commission and its advisory committees. The remainder of the bill's provisions are effective September 1, 2014.