By: Gallegos S.B. No. 1230

(In the Senate - Filed March 6, 2007; March 14, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Jurisprudence; April 23, 2007, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; April 23, 2007, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1230 By: Harris

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the licensing of court interpreters.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 57.002, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:

(f) A licensed court interpreter appointed by a court under Subsection (a) or (b) must hold a license that includes the appropriate designation under Section 57.043(d) that indicates the interpreter is permitted to interpret in that court.

SECTION 2. Section 57.043, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:

(d) A license issued under this subchapter must include at least one of the following designations:

(1) a basic designation that permits the interpreter to interpret court proceedings in justice and municipal courts; or

(2) a master designation that permits the interpreter to interpret court proceedings in all state courts, including justice and municipal courts.

(e) In adopting rules relating to licensing under this subchapter, the commission shall prescribe the qualifications required for a license that includes a basic designation and for a license that includes a master designation.

SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a court interpreter license issued or renewed on or after the effective date of this Act. A court interpreter license issued or renewed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the license was issued or renewed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

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