CHAPTER 82. CONFIDENTIALITY OF INTERPRETED, TRANSLITERATED, OR RELAYED CONVERSATIONS - Texas Statutes

HUMAN RESOURCES CODE

TITLE 4. SERVICES FOR THE DEAF

CHAPTER 82. CONFIDENTIALITY OF INTERPRETED, TRANSLITERATED, OR

RELAYED CONVERSATIONS

Sec. 82.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Qualified interpreter" means a person employed as an

interpreter who holds a current certification issued by the Board

for Evaluation of Interpreters, or another current certificate

that the Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

determines is comparable or appropriate and approves.

(2) "Relay agent" means a person employed to relay conversations

for a person who is hearing impaired or speech impaired over a

dual-party telephone system.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,

1991. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 835, Sec. 21, eff.

Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 82.002. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CONVERSATIONS. A qualified

interpreter or relay agent who is employed to interpret,

transliterate, or relay a conversation between a person who can

hear and a person who is hearing impaired or speech impaired is a

conduit for the conversation and may not disclose or be compelled

to disclose, through reporting or testimony or by subpoena, the

contents of the conversation.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,

1991.

Sec. 82.003. CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A qualified interpreter or

relay agent who is employed to interpret, transliterate, or relay

a conversation between a person who can hear and a person who is

hearing impaired or speech impaired commits an offense if the

qualified interpreter or relay agent discloses the contents of

the conversation, unless the qualified interpreter or relay agent

obtains the consent of each party to the conversation.

(b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 333, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,

1991.