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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the licensing of court interpreters. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 57.002, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) A licensed court interpreter appointed by a court |
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under Subsection (a) or (b) must hold a license that includes the |
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appropriate designation under Section 57.043(d) that indicates the |
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interpreter is permitted to interpret in that court. |
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SECTION 2. Section 57.043, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read |
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as follows: |
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(a) The executive director shall issue a court interpreter |
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license to an applicant who: |
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(1) can interpret for an individual who can hear but |
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who does not comprehend English or communicate in English; |
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(2) passes the appropriate examination prescribed by |
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the executive director not earlier than two years before the date |
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the executive director receives the applicant's application for a |
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license; and |
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(3) possesses the other qualifications for the license |
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required by this subchapter or by rules adopted under this |
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subchapter. |
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(d) A license issued under this subchapter must include at |
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least one of the following designations: |
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(1) a basic designation that permits the interpreter |
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to interpret court proceedings in justice courts and municipal |
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courts created under Chapter 29, other than proceedings referred by |
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the judges of those courts to a magistrate, master, referee, |
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associate judge, or hearing officer; or |
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(2) a master designation that permits the interpreter |
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to interpret court proceedings in all courts in this state, |
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including justice courts and municipal courts created under Chapter |
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29. |
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(e) In adopting rules relating to licensing under this |
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subchapter, the commission shall, after consulting with the board, |
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prescribe the minimum score an individual must achieve on an |
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examination to receive a license that includes a basic designation |
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under Subsection (d) and the minimum score an individual must |
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achieve to receive a license that includes a master designation |
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under that subsection. |
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SECTION 3. Subsection (a), Section 57.046, Government Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The executive director shall prepare examinations under |
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this subchapter that test an applicant's knowledge, skill, and |
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efficiency in interpreting under this subchapter. The same |
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examinations must be used for issuing a license that includes a |
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basic designation or master designation as described by Section |
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57.043(d). |
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SECTION 4. (a) Notwithstanding Subsection (e), Section |
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57.043, Government Code, as added by this Act, and not later than |
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December 1, 2009, the executive director of the Texas Department of |
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Licensing and Regulation shall issue to a person who, on September |
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1, 2009, holds a court interpreter license issued under Subsection |
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(a), Section 57.043, Government Code, a new court interpreter |
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license that includes a master designation described by Subdivision |
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(2), Subsection (d), Section 57.043, Government Code, as added by |
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this Act. |
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(b) Subsection (d), Section 57.043, Government Code, as |
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added by this Act, applies only to a court interpreter license, |
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other than a court interpreter license issued under Subsection (a) |
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of this section, that is initially issued under Subsection (a), |
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Section 57.043, Government Code, as amended by this Act, on or after |
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September 1, 2009, and to the subsequent renewal of that license. |
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(c) Subsection (b-1), Section 57.002, Government Code, as |
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added by this Act, applies only to the appointment of a licensed |
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court interpreter on or after January 1, 2010. An appointment |
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before that date is governed by the law in effect on the date the |
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appointment was made, and the former law is continued in effect for |
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that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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