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By: Zaffirini |
S.B. No. 1537 |
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(In the Senate - Filed February 21, 2025; March 6, 2025, |
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read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice; |
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March 31, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable Committee |
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Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; March 31, 2025, |
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sent to printer.) |
| Click here to see the committee vote |
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COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1537 |
By: Flores |
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the appointment of an interpreter in a criminal |
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proceeding. |
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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), Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) In any criminal proceeding, when [When] a motion for |
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appointment of an interpreter is filed by any party or on motion of |
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the court and if the court determines [, in any criminal proceeding, |
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it is determined] that a person charged or a witness does not |
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understand and speak the English language, an interpreter must be |
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appointed as provided by Section 57.002, Government Code, and sworn |
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to interpret for the person charged or the witness. Subject to |
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Section 57.002, Government Code, any [Any] person may be |
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subpoenaed, attached, or recognized in any criminal action or |
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proceeding[,] to appear before the proper judge or court to act as |
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interpreter [therein,] under the same rules and penalties as are |
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provided for witnesses. In the event that the only available |
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interpreter is not considered to possess adequate interpreting |
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skills for the particular situation or the interpreter is not |
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familiar with use of slang, the person charged or witness may be |
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permitted by the court to nominate another person to act as |
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intermediary between the person charged or witness and the |
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appointed interpreter during the proceedings. |
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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, 2025. |
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