H.B. No. 4445
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the licensing and appointment 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 (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, 2011, the executive director of the Texas Department of
  Licensing and Regulation shall issue to a person who, on September
  1, 2011, 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, 2011, 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, 2012.  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, 2011.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 4445 was passed by the House on May
  15, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 144, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 4445 on May 29, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 136, Nays 0,
  2 present, not voting; and that the House adopted S.C.R. No. 82
  authorizing certain corrections in H.B. No. 4445 on June 1, 2009, by
  the following vote:  Yeas 140, Nays 0, 1 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 4445 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 25, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0; and that the Senate adopted S.C.R. No. 82 authorizing certain
  corrections in H.B. No. 4445 on June 1, 2009 by the following
  vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor