Honorable Richard Peña Raymond, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1069 by Rodriguez, Eddie (Relating to services for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and certification requirements for interpreters for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing; providing an administrative penalty; requiring a fee and changing the rate of a fee; requiring an occupational certification.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Chapter 81 of the Human Resources Code to require that the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) certify any person who provides interpreting services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing; exceptions are provided. Currently, DARS' Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) is responsible for testing and issuing of certificates to interpreters, and only those interpreting court proceedings are required to be certified. The bill would provide for administrative penalties. An individual would not be required to hold a certificate under the new requirements before June 1, 2017.
DARS estimates there would be a cost to implement the provisions of the bill, which would be partially offset by an increase in certification and testing fee revenue. It is assumed that the costs could be absorbed within current resources. The Health and Human Services Commission does not anticipate any significant fiscal impact to implement the provisions of the bill. The Comptroller of Public Accounts indicates that penalty fines for violations could affect revenue collections, but the amounts in the aggregate cannot be determined.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 538 Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Department of