LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
74th Regular Session
April 20, 1995
TO: Honorable Don Henderson, Chair IN RE: Committee Substitute
Committee on Jurisprudence for
Senate Senate Bill
Austin, Texas No. 151
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No.
151 (relating to certification and licensing of certain court-
appointed interpreters; providing penalties) this office has
determined the following:
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal
basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions
of the bill.
The bill would provide for the Texas Commission for the Deaf and
Hearing Impaired to certify court interpreters, to contract with
public or private education institutions to administer a training
program, to keep a roster of certified court interpreters and
send the roster to each state court and any person who requests a
copy, and to accept gifts, grants or donations to assist in
administering the program. The bill would also provide that
rules shall, by rule, provide for training programs,
administration of exams, forms for certificates, procedures for
renewal of a certificate, continuing education programs,
instructions for the compensation to be paid to a certified court
interpreter and administration sanctions to be enforced against a
person certified by the commission. The bill provides that the
commission may charge fees for training, examinations, initial
certification and certification renewal. The bill also directs
the executive director to investigate allegations of violations
of the rules promulgated for certification of court interpreters.
The Commission for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired reports that
there will be no fiscal impact to the commission as a result of
the provisions of the bill.
The bill also requires the Texas Department of Licensing and
Regulation to examine and license court interpreters for
individuals who do not speak English and provides for penalties
(exempting certified court interpreters that interpret
proceedings for a hearing impaired individual). The bill would
establish a nine member advisory board that serves without
compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for expenses in the
amount of per diem set by the General Appropriations Act. The
bill would provide authority for the commissioner to develop
examinations, prescribe forms, set fees, adopt rules and enforce
the rules. The bill would also allow the commissioner to remove
an advisory board member for inefficiency or neglect of duty.
The bill requires that a court interpreter license be issued to
applicants who demonstrate reasonable proficiency in interpreting
English and court proceedings. Licenses are to be renewed
annually. The agency estimates there are at least 30 languages
used in Texas. The agency expects to develop or purchase three
language exams per year.
The probable fiscal implication of implementing the provisions of
the bill during each of the first five years following passage
is estimated as follows:
Fiscal Probable Cost Out Probable Revenue Change in
Year of General Gain to Number of State
Revenue General Revenue Employees from
Fund 001 Fund 001 FY 1995
to the Department
of Licensing
and Regulation
1996 $429,072 $452,550 6.5
1997 557,686 560,700 8.0
1998 460,225 490,350 8.0
1999 460,225 490,350 8.0
2000 460,225 490,350 8.0
Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the
provisions of the bill are in effect.
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
Source: Commission for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired,
Department of Licensing and Regulation
LBB Staff: JK, DC, RR