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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of telephone interpreter services in any |
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criminal proceeding before a judge or magistrate. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 38.30(a-1), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(a-1) A qualified telephone interpreter may be sworn to |
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interpret for the person in any criminal [the trial of a Class C
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misdemeanor or a] proceeding before a judge or magistrate if an |
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interpreter is not available to appear in person at the proceeding |
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[before the court] or if the only available interpreter is not |
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considered to possess adequate interpreting skills for the |
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particular situation or is unfamiliar with the use of slang. In |
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this subsection, "qualified telephone interpreter" means a |
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telephone service that employs: |
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(1) licensed court interpreters as defined by Section |
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157.001, Government Code; or |
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(2) federally certified court interpreters. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |