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.