1. (a) The director shall issue a court interpreter license to an applicant who:

   1. (1) can interpret for an individual who can hear but who has no or limited English proficiency;
   2. (2) passes the appropriate examination prescribed by the commission within the period specified in Section 152.201(c-1); and
   3. (3) possesses the other qualifications for the license required by this chapter or by rules adopted under this chapter.
2. (b) The commission shall adopt rules relating to licensing under this chapter. The rules must be approved by the supreme court. The director shall prescribe all forms required under this chapter.
3. (c) A license issued under this chapter expires on the last day of the month in which the second anniversary of the date on which the license was issued occurs unless it is renewed on or before that date.

4. (d) A license issued under this chapter must include at least one of the following designations:

   1. (1) a basic designation that permits the interpreter to interpret court proceedings in justice courts and municipal courts that are not municipal courts of record, but the designation does not permit the interpreter to interpret a proceeding before the court in which the judge is acting as a magistrate; or
   2. (2) a master designation that permits the interpreter to interpret court proceedings in all courts in this state, including justice courts and municipal courts described by Subdivision (1).

5. (e) In adopting rules relating to licensing under this subchapter, the commission shall, after consulting with the advisory board, prescribe the minimum score an individual must achieve on an examination to receive a license that includes a basic designation under Subsection (d) and the minimum score an individual must achieve to receive a license that includes a master designation under that subsection.

   Transferred, redesignated and amended from Government Code, Subchapter C, Chapter 57 by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 42 (S.B. 966), Sec. 1.08, eff. September 1, 2014.

   Redesignated from Government Code, Subtitle K, Title 2 by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1236 (S.B. 1296), Sec. 21.001(21), eff. September 1, 2015.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1139, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 816, Sec. 8.003, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1198 (H.B. 4445), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 516 (S.B. 43), Sec. 30, eff. September 1, 2017.