By Rangel H.B. No. 756 74R4141 NSC-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the provision of interpreters, telecommunication 1-3 devices, and other services for deaf or hearing-impaired persons 1-4 who are arrested or confined. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Chapter 15, Code of Criminal Procedure, is 1-7 amended by adding Article 15.171 to read as follows: 1-8 Art. 15.171. INTERPRETER AND TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR 1-9 DEAF OR HEARING-IMPAIRED ACCUSED. (a) Not later than one hour 1-10 after a law enforcement agency takes into custody a deaf or 1-11 hearing-impaired person who has been arrested, with or without a 1-12 warrant, the agency shall contact the toll-free interpreter 1-13 services information number established under Section 81.0062, 1-14 Human Resources Code, to locate a qualified interpreter for the 1-15 person. 1-16 (b) After a qualified interpreter is located, the magistrate 1-17 shall appoint the interpreter without delay as provided by Article 1-18 15.17(c). 1-19 (c) The deaf or hearing-impaired accused may refuse the 1-20 services of an interpreter. 1-21 (d) The deaf or hearing-impaired accused shall be provided 1-22 access to a telecommunication device for the deaf equal to the 1-23 access to a telephone provided to other arrested persons while in 1-24 custody. 2-1 SECTION 2. Chapter 81, Human Resources Code, is amended by 2-2 adding Section 81.0062 to read as follows: 2-3 Sec. 81.0062. TOLL-FREE INTERPRETER SERVICES INFORMATION 2-4 NUMBER. (a) The commission shall establish and maintain a 2-5 toll-free telephone number for interpreter services information to 2-6 assist law enforcement agencies or courts in locating qualified 2-7 interpreters for appointment for deaf or hearing-impaired 2-8 defendants as required by Article 15.171 or 38.31, Code of Criminal 2-9 Procedure. 2-10 (b) The toll-free number must be available 24 hours a day. 2-11 (c) The commission may adopt rules necessary to implement 2-12 this section. 2-13 SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 501, Government Code, is 2-14 amended by adding Section 501.018 to read as follows: 2-15 Sec. 501.018. TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICES AND OTHER SERVICES 2-16 FOR DEAF OR HEARING-IMPAIRED INMATES. (a) The institutional 2-17 division shall provide a deaf or hearing-impaired inmate with 2-18 access to a telecommunication device for the deaf that is equal to 2-19 the access to a telephone the division provides to inmates who are 2-20 not deaf or hearing-impaired. 2-21 (b) The institutional division shall provide deaf or 2-22 hearing-impaired inmates access to all services that the division 2-23 provides inmates who are not deaf or hearing-impaired. 2-24 SECTION 4. Subchapter A, Chapter 351, Local Government Code, 2-25 is amended by adding Section 351.016 to read as follows: 2-26 Sec. 351.016. TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICES AND OTHER SERVICES 2-27 FOR DEAF OR HEARING-IMPAIRED INMATES. (a) The sheriff or jail 3-1 administrator shall provide a deaf or hearing-impaired inmate with 3-2 access to a telecommunication device for the deaf that is equal to 3-3 the access to a telephone the sheriff or administrator provides to 3-4 inmates who are not deaf or hearing-impaired. 3-5 (b) The sheriff or jail administrator shall provide deaf or 3-6 hearing-impaired inmates access to all services that the sheriff or 3-7 administrator provides inmates who are not deaf or 3-8 hearing-impaired. 3-9 SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995. 3-10 SECTION 6. The importance of this legislation and the 3-11 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-12 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-13 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-14 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.