By Tomás León

Hearings on two bills that would affect court interpreter licensing have been scheduled for next Wednesday, April 15th. The two bills, HB 4445 and SB 1892, are companion versions for the House of Representatives and the Senate of proposed legislation that would create a lower level of licensing for court interpreters, essentially creating a second tier of less-qualified court interpreters who would be licensed to work in justice of the peace and municipal courts.

The Texas Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (TAJIT) strongly opposes both pieces of legislation and encourages Texas court interpreters to contact their state senators and representatives to urge them to vote against these bills. TAJIT believes that people with limited English proficiency are entitled to the best possible level of assistance, irrespective of whether they are facing legal action in a justice of the peace court, a municipal court, or a district court. They should not have to settle for second-class help just because they are in a lower court. That’s almost as ludicrous as saying that the legislature should license two kinds of lawyers: one to represent people in a justice of the peace court and the other to represent people in a district court!

The Senate Jurisprudence Committee public hearing on SB 1892 will be held on Wednesday, April 15, at 1:30 p.m. in room E1.012 at the Texas State Capitol. The House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee hearing will be held on the same day in room E1.030 and is scheduled to begin after the House adjourns for the day (but HB 4445 is the last item on the Committee’s agenda, so anyone planning to testify on this bill can anticipate a late night).

See the TAJIT website for more information on TAJIT’s stance on this proposed legislation. Follow these links to view the text of the two bills: SB 1892,  HB 4445.