HUMAN RESOURCES CODE

CHAPTER 82. CONFIDENTIALITY OF INTERPRETED, TRANSLITERATED, OR 
RELAYED CONVERSATIONS


	§ 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, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.  
Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 835, § 21, eff. Sept. 1, 
1995.


	§ 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, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.           


	§ 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, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.