LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 24, 2005

TO:	Honorable Will Hartnett, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1642 by Hartnett (Relating to the appointment of interpreters for judicial proceedings.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would authorize a court in a county with a population of 50,000 or more to appoint a spoken language interpreter who is not a certified or licensed court interpreter under certain circumstances. The person appointed, however, must meet certain criteria. The bill would take effect September 1, 2005 and would apply only to an appointment made on or after that date.

Under current statute, only a court with a population of less than 50,000 may appoint an interpreter who is not certified or licensed.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JOB, DLBa