By: Rodriguez, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Uresti) H.B. No. 233
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 8, 2009;
  May 8, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Health
  and Human Services; May 21, 2009, reported favorably by the
  following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 21, 2009, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the creation of an advisory committee to establish and
  recommend qualifications for certain health care translators and
  interpreters.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter R to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER R. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON QUALIFICATIONS FOR
  HEALTH CARE TRANSLATORS AND INTERPRETERS
         Sec. 531.701.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Advisory committee" means the Advisory Committee
  on Qualifications for Health Care Translators and Interpreters.
               (2)  "Health care" means medical care, surgical care,
  hospital care, or any remedial care provided to diagnose, prevent,
  alleviate, or cure a patient's injury or illness, including mental
  health care.
               (3)  "Health care interpreter" means a person who is
  trained to communicate with a person who has limited English
  proficiency or who is deaf or hard of hearing by accurately
  conveying in English and the language of the person who has limited
  English proficiency or who is deaf or hard of hearing the meaning of
  health care related statements made orally.
               (4)  "Health care practitioner" means an individual who
  furnishes patient health care services under a license,
  certificate, or registration issued by this state.
               (5)  "Health care translator" means a person who is
  trained to communicate in writing with a person with limited
  English proficiency by accurately translating into English and the
  language of the person who has limited English proficiency written
  health care related statements.
               (6)  "Person who has limited English proficiency" means
  a person who:
                     (A)  because of the person's place of birth or
  culture, speaks a language other than English; and
                     (B)  does not speak English adequately to
  communicate effectively with a health care practitioner.
         Sec. 531.702.  APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Except as
  otherwise provided by this subchapter or a rule adopted by the
  executive commissioner, the advisory committee is subject to
  Chapter 2110.
         Sec. 531.703.  APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT.  The Advisory
  Committee on Qualifications for Health Care Translators and
  Interpreters is subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act).  Unless
  continued in existence as provided by this subchapter, the
  committee is abolished and this subchapter expires January 1, 2021.
         Sec. 531.704.  ESTABLISHMENT.  The executive commissioner
  shall establish the Advisory Committee on Qualifications for Health
  Care Translators and Interpreters.
         Sec. 531.705.  MEMBERS.  (a)  The advisory committee is
  composed of not fewer than 10 members appointed by the executive
  commissioner as provided by this section.
         (b)  The advisory committee must include:
               (1)  one member who is a representative of a
  professional translators and interpreters association;
               (2)  one member who is a health care interpreter
  working with people who have limited English proficiency;
               (3)  one member who is a health care interpreter
  working with people who are deaf or hard of hearing;
               (4)  one member who is a representative of a mental
  health services provider;
               (5)  one member who is a representative of a hospital;
               (6)  one member who represents the insurance industry;
               (7)  one member who represents a business entity that
  provides translators and interpreters to health care
  practitioners;
               (8)  one member who represents an organization that
  provides services to immigrants and refugees; and
               (9)  one member who is a representative of an
  institution of higher education.
         (c)  The remaining members of the advisory committee must
  include at least one health care practitioner and additional
  members, as determined by the executive commissioner, who represent
  the interests of consumers.
         Sec. 531.706.  DUTIES.  (a)  The advisory committee shall
  establish and recommend qualifications for health care
  interpreters and health care translators that include:
               (1)  for a person to be qualified as a health care
  translator, requiring the person to:
                     (A)  fluently understand a written foreign
  language and demonstrate the ability to accurately translate
  messages communicated in that language into English and to
  accurately translate messages communicated in English into that
  language; and
                     (B)  have practical experience as a translator or
  hold professional certification as a translator; and
               (2)  for a person to be qualified as a health care
  interpreter, requiring the person to:
                     (A)  fluently understand a spoken foreign
  language and demonstrate the ability to accurately interpret
  messages communicated in that language into English and to
  interpret messages communicated in English into that language; and
                     (B)  have practical experience as an interpreter
  or hold professional certification or licensure as an interpreter.
         (b)  The advisory committee shall advise the commission on:
               (1)  the language proficiency required for
  certification as a health care interpreter or health care
  translator;
               (2)  training requirements for health care
  interpreters and health care translators;
               (3)  standards of practice for health care interpreters
  and health care translators;
               (4)  the requirements, content, and administration of
  certification examinations for health care interpreters and health
  care translators;
               (5)  the procedures for testing, qualifying, and
  certifying health care interpreters and health care translators;
  and
               (6)  reciprocity agreements with other states.
         (c)  The advisory committee shall:
               (1)  develop strategies for implementing the
  regulation of health care interpreters and health care translators;
               (2)  make recommendations to the commission for any
  legislation necessary to establish and enforce qualifications for
  health care interpreters and health care translators or for the
  adoption of rules by state agencies regulating health care
  practitioners, hospitals, physician offices, and health care
  facilities that hire health care interpreters or health care
  translators; and
               (3)  perform other activities assigned by the
  commission related to health care interpreters or health care
  translators.
         Sec. 531.707.  COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT. A member of the
  advisory committee may not receive compensation, but is entitled to
  reimbursement of the travel expenses incurred by the member while
  conducting the business of the advisory committee, as provided by
  the General Appropriations Act.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than January 1, 2010, the executive
  commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall
  establish the Advisory Committee on Qualifications for Health Care
  Translators and Interpreters as required by Subchapter R, Chapter
  531, Government Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
 
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