BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2656

By: Moody

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Examinations for court interpreters licensing are required to be offered at least twice a year and at places designated by the administrative director of the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System. These examinations are currently being offered only in person in Austin, which creates a barrier of entry to the profession for people who do not live in and around Austin. H.B. 2656 seeks to remove this barrier by requiring examinations to be offered either in person in each county with a population of 800,000 or more or in places designated by the administrative director, if any, and online.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2656 amends the Government Code to replace the requirement for licensing examinations for court interpreters to be offered at least twice a year at times and places designated by the administrative director of the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System with the requirement for these examinations to be offered as follows:

· at least once a year in person in each county with a population of 800,000 or more, at times and places designated by the administrative director; or, alternatively,

· in person at times and places designated by the director, if any, and online at least twice a year at times designated by the administrative director.

EFFECTIVE DATE

January 1, 2022.