85R12700 SCL-F
 
  By: Menéndez S.B. No. 2108
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to registration and regulation of real-time captioning
  providers; imposing a civil penalty; authorizing fees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Title 2, Government Code, is amended by adding
  Subtitle M to read as follows:
  SUBTITLE M.  REGULATION OF OTHER PROFESSIONS
  CHAPTER 176. REAL-TIME CAPTIONING PROVIDERS
  SUBCHAPTER A.  GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 176.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Commission" means the Judicial Branch
  Certification Commission established under Section 152.051.
               (2)  "Deaf" means having a hearing impairment of such
  severity that an individual must depend on visual methods to
  communicate.
               (3)  "Hearing impairment" means a disability that
  results in a loss of hearing function to an individual and in which
  the individual:
                     (A)  relies on residual hearing; and
                     (B)  may depend on visual methods to communicate.
               (4)  "Practice of real-time captioning" means the
  facilitation of communication between an individual who is deaf or
  has a hearing impairment and another individual through the use of
  real-time captioning.
               (5)  "Real-time captioning" means the immediate,
  verbatim translation of the spoken word into English text by a
  real-time captioning provider.
               (6)  "Real-time captioning provider" means an
  individual who holds a certificate of registration issued by the
  commission to engage in the practice of real-time captioning in
  this state.
         Sec. 176.002.  APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. This chapter does
  not apply to a person who:
               (1)  is licensed by another state to engage in the
  practice of real-time captioning and who engages in the practice of
  real-time captioning in this state:
                     (A)  for not more than 30 days in a calendar year;
  or
                     (B)  by teleconference, if the services provided
  are necessary because a real-time captioning provider registered in
  this state is not available;
               (2)  engages in the practice of real-time captioning
  solely for meetings of a nonprofit or religious organization;
               (3)  engages in the practice of real-time captioning as
  necessary for the provision of an emergency medical or governmental
  service to a person who is deaf or has a hearing impairment; or
               (4)  is certified as a court interpreter under Section
  57.021.
         Sec. 176.003.  RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. The commission may
  adopt rules necessary to implement this chapter.
  SUBCHAPTER B.  CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION
         Sec. 176.051.  CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION REQUIRED. A
  person may not engage in the practice of real-time captioning in
  this state unless the person holds a certificate of registration
  issued by the commission.
         Sec. 176.052.  CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION APPLICATION. An
  applicant for a certificate of registration under this chapter
  shall submit an application to the commission on the form and in the
  manner provided by the commission. The application must include:
               (1)  proof that the applicant is at least 18 years of
  age;
               (2)  proof that the applicant has complied with the
  education, training, experience, and other requirements for
  engaging in the practice of real-time captioning as prescribed by
  commission rule; and
               (3)  any other information the commission may require.
         Sec. 176.053.  CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.
  The commission by rule shall establish the training, educational,
  and experience requirements for a certificate of registration under
  this chapter. In developing the requirements, the commission shall
  consider the best interests of individuals who are deaf or have a
  hearing impairment.
         Sec. 176.054.  ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION;
  TERM. (a) The commission shall issue a certificate of registration
  to an applicant who complies with Sections 176.052 and 176.053 and
  rules adopted under this chapter.
         (b)  The certificate expires on the first anniversary of the
  date of issuance.
         Sec. 176.055.  REGISTRY OF REAL-TIME CAPTIONING PROVIDERS.
  (a) The commission shall establish and maintain a registry of
  real-time captioning providers. The registry must include:
               (1)  the name of the provider and any other information
  prescribed by the commission; and
               (2)  if the person is certified to engage in the
  practice of interpreting, each professional classification in
  which the person is certified to practice.
         (b)  The commission shall post the registry on the
  commission's Internet website. The commission shall provide a copy
  of the registry to any person without charge.
         Sec. 176.056.  ANNUAL RENEWAL. To continue to engage in the
  practice of real-time captioning, a person must obtain a renewal
  certificate of registration not later than the anniversary of the
  date on which the initial registration was issued.
         Sec. 176.057.  FEES. The commission by rule may impose fees
  to cover the cost of administering this chapter. The commission
  shall set fees for issuing or renewing a certificate of
  registration in amounts designed to allow the commission to recover
  from certificate holders all of the commission's direct and
  indirect costs in administering and enforcing this chapter.
         Sec. 176.058.  ETHICAL STANDARDS. The commission shall
  develop by rule ethical standards for real-time captioning
  providers. The ethical standards must require that a provider
  maintain the confidentiality of all communications between a
  provider and an individual receiving the provider's services.
  SUBCHAPTER C.  ENFORCEMENT
         Sec. 176.101.  CIVIL PENALTY; INJUNCTION. (a) A person who
  violates this chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter is
  subject to a civil penalty of not less than $50 or more than $2,000
  for each act of violation. Each day of a violation is a separate
  violation for purposes of this section.
         (b)  If it appears that a person has violated or is
  threatening to violate this chapter or a rule adopted under this
  chapter, the attorney general, at the request of the commission,
  may file an action for:
               (1)  injunctive relief to restrain the person from
  continuing the alleged violation;
               (2)  a civil penalty described by Subsection (a); or
               (3)  both.
         (c)  The attorney general may recover reasonable costs and
  fees incurred in bringing an action under this section.
         SECTION 2.  (a)  The Judicial Branch Certification
  Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement Chapter 176,
  Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1,
  2018.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Chapter 176, Government Code, as added
  by this Act, a person is not required to hold a certificate of
  registration under that chapter to engage in the practice of
  real-time captioning until September 1, 2018.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.