By: Johnson S.B. No. 331
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to eligibility to serve as an interpreter in an election.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 61.032, Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 61.032.  INTERPRETER PERMITTED.  If an election officer
  who attempts to communicate with a voter does not understand the
  language used by the voter, the voter may communicate through an
  interpreter selected by the voter or, if the voter has not selected
  an interpreter, any interpreter an election officer may appoint.
         SECTION 2.  Section 61.033, Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 61.033.  ELIGIBILITY TO SERVE AS INTERPRETER. To be
  eligible to serve as an interpreter, a person:
               (1)  if selected by the voter, may be any person other
  than the voter's employer, an agent of the voter's employer, or an
  officer or agent of a labor union to which the voter belongs; or
               (2)  if appointed to serve as an interpreter by an
  election officer, must be a registered voter of the county in which
  the voter needing the interpreter resides or a registered voter of
  an adjacent county.
         SECTION 3.  Section 61.034, Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 61.034.  TRANSLATING BALLOT. If a voter cannot
  comprehend the language in which the ballot is printed, the voter
  may receive assistance in accordance with Subchapter B, Chapter 64 
  [an interpreter may accompany the voter to the voting station for
  the purpose of translating the ballot to the voter].
         SECTION 4.  Section 61.035, Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 61.035.  OATH. (a) Before serving as an interpreter,
  the person selected as interpreter must take the following oath
  administered by an election officer:
         "I swear (or affirm) that, to the best of my ability, I will
  correctly interpret and translate each question, answer, or
  statement addressed either to the voter by any election officer or
  to an election officer by the voter."
         (b)  A person who will be providing ballot assistance under
  Section 61.034 must also take the oath required by Subchapter B,
  Chapter 64, and meet all other requirements of that subchapter.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.