Amend HB 4445 (Senate committee printing) by striking all below the enacting clause and substituting the following: SECTION 1. Section 57.002, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: (b-1) 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 amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows: (a) The executive director shall issue a court interpreter license to an applicant who: (1) can interpret for an individual who can hear but who does not comprehend English or communicate in English; (2) passes the appropriate examination prescribed by the executive director not earlier than two years before the date the executive director receives the applicant's application for a license; and (3) possesses the other qualifications for the license required by this subchapter or by rules adopted under this subchapter. (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 courts and municipal courts that are not municipal courts of record, other than a proceeding before the court in which the judge is acting as a magistrate; or (2) a master designation that permits the interpreter to interpret court proceedings in all courts in this state, including justice courts and municipal courts described by Subdivision (1). (e) In adopting rules relating to licensing under this subchapter, the commission shall, after consulting with the board, prescribe the minimum score an individual must achieve on an examination to receive a license that includes a basic designation under Subsection (d) and the minimum score an individual must achieve to receive a license that includes a master designation under that subsection. SECTION 3. Section 57.046(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) The executive director shall prepare examinations under this subchapter that test an applicant's knowledge, skill, and efficiency in interpreting under this subchapter. The same examinations must be used for issuing a license that includes a basic designation or master designation as described by Section 57.043(d). SECTION 4. (a) Notwithstanding Section 57.043(e), Government Code, as added by this Act, and not later than December 1, 2009, the executive director of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shall issue to a person who, on September 1, 2009, holds a court interpreter license issued under Section 57.043(a), Government Code, a new court interpreter license that includes a master designation described by Section 57.043(d)(2), Government Code, as added by this Act. (b) Section 57.043(d), Government Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a court interpreter license, other than a court interpreter license issued under Subsection (a) of this section, that is initially issued under Section 57.043(a), Government Code, on or after September 1, 2009, and to the subsequent renewal of that license. (c) Section 57.002(b-1), Government Code, as added by this Act, applies only to the appointment of a licensed court interpreter on or after January 1, 2010. An appointment before that date is governed by the law in effect on the date the appointment was made, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.