TITLE 16.ECONOMIC REGULATION

Part 4. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION

Chapter 80. LICENSED COURT INTERPRETERS

16 TAC §80.80

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation ("Department") proposes an amendment to 16 TAC §80.80, regarding a duplicate license, and examination and other fees for licensed court interpreters.

The proposed amendment reduces the duplicate license fee from $50 to $25 and clarifies the fees for licensed court interpreter examinations. The proposed amendment also eliminates the fee for changing name and address, and for obtaining additional license endorsements.

This amendment is needed to make the duplicate license fee consistent with other Department duplicate license fees and to clarify the fees for examinations.

William H. Kuntz, Jr., Executive Director, has determined that for the first five-year period the amendment is in effect there will be no cost to state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the amended section.

Mr. Kuntz also has determined that for each year of the first five-year period the amendment is in effect, the public benefit will be an increase in timely licensee contact information changes for the licensed court interpreter program. There may be a very slight decrease in revenue to the Department as a result of the reduced and eliminated fees. Mr. Kuntz anticipates decreased economic costs to licensees, including small businesses and micro-businesses because of the reduction and elimination of fees.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to William H. Kuntz, Jr., Executive Director, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, P.O. Box 12157, Austin, Texas 78711, or facsimile: (512) 475-2872, or electronically: whkuntz@license.state.tx.us. The deadline for comments is 30 days after publication in the Texas Register .

The amendment is proposed under Texas Government Code, Chapter 57, §57.045 which authorizes the commission to set license and examination fees for the licensed court interpreter program and Texas Occupations Code, §51.202 which directs the Commission to set fees in amounts reasonable and necessary to cover the costs of administering programs or activities.

The statutory provisions affected by the proposal are those set forth in Texas Government Code, Chapter 57 and Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 51. No other statutes, articles, or codes are affected by the proposal.

§80.80.Fees.

(a) - (c) (No change.)

(d) The fee for obtaining a duplicate license is $25 [ , making a change in name or address, or obtaining an additional language endorsement shall be $50 each ].

(e) The fee for the written examination is $100 [ Each language examination shall have a separate fee of $100 for the written examination and $300 for the oral examination ].

(f) The fee for each oral examination is $300.

(g) [ (f) ] Late renewal fees for licenses issued under this chapter are provided under §60.83 of this title (relating to Late Renewal Fees).

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on April 18, 2005.

TRD-200501597

William H. Kuntz, Jr.

Executive Director

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation

Earliest possible date of adoption: May 29, 2005

For further information, please call: (512) 463-7348