HB119ENGROSSED
Page 0
HB119
89BT2F2-2
By Representatives Underwood, Wilcox
RFD: Boards, Agencies and Commissions
First Read: 04-Feb-25
PFD: 03-Feb-25
1
2
3
4
5
6 HB119 Engrossed
Page 1
PFD: 03-Feb-25
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to the Alabama Sunset Law; to continue the
existence and functioning of the Alabama Licensure Board for
Interpreters and Transliterators until October 1, 2027, with
certain modifications; to amend Section 34-16-4, Code of
Alabama 1975, to require that a board member resides in and be
appointed from each congressional district in this state and
that any remaining members be appointed from the state
at-large.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Pursuant to the Alabama Sunset Law, the
Sunset Committee recommends the continuance of the Alabama
Licensure Board for Interpreters and Transliterators until
October 1, 2027, with additional recommendation for statutory
change as set out in Section 3.
Section 2. The existence and functioning of the Alabama
Licensure Board for Interpreters and Transliterators, created
and functioning pursuant to Sections 34-16-1 to 34-16-16,
inclusive, Code of Alabama 1975, is continued until October 1,
2027, and those code sections are expressly preserved.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28 HB119 Engrossed
Page 2
2027, and those code sections are expressly preserved.
Section 3. Section 34-16-4, Code of Alabama 1975, is
amended to read as follows:
"ยง34-16-4
(a) There is created the Alabama Licensure Board for
Interpreters and Transliterators.
(b) The board shall consist of nine members appointed
by the Governor as follows:
(1) Four members certified as interpreters or
transliterators at a professional level by a nationally
recognized certification, one of whom shall work in an
educational setting. A list of three nominations for each of
these positions shall be submitted to the Governor by ALRID.
(2) Three deaf or hard of hearing members who are
knowledgeable in the field of professional interpreting. A
list of three nominations for each of these positions shall be
submitted to the Governor by AAD.
(3) Two members at-large who have an interest in and
are experienced in dealing with issues that affect the deaf,
hard of hearing, and interpreting communities.
(c) All members of the board shall be citizens of the
United States and residents of the State of Alabama. In
appointing members to the board, the nominating organizations
and the Governor, to the extent possible, shall select those
persons individuals whose appointments ensure that the
membership of the board is inclusive and reflects the racial,
gender, geographic, urban/rural urban, rural, and economic
diversity of the state. Commencing on June 1, 2025, as the
terms of the members serving on the board expire, the
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56 HB119 Engrossed
Page 3
terms of the members serving on the board expire, the
membership of the board shall be appointed so that one member
resides in and is appointed from each congressional district
in this state with the remaining members being appointed from
the state at-large.
(d) A list of three nominees for each position, except
for the at-large positions, shall be submitted to the Governor
by the designated organizations by October 1, 1998. The
initial terms shall begin January 1, 1999.
(e) The initial members of the board shall serve the
following terms as designated by the Governor:
(1) Four of the initial members shall serve for two
years.
(2) Three of the initial members shall serve for three
years.
(3) Two of the initial members shall serve for four
years.
(f) Subsequent terms of office shall be four years. No
board member may serve more than two consecutive terms. In the
event of a vacancy, the Governor shall fill the vacancy from
the remaining names on the list of nominees for that position.
Each board member shall serve until his or her successor is
duly appointed and qualified.
(g) At its first meeting each year, the board shall
elect a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary. No member shall
be elected to serve more than two consecutive years in the
same office.
(h) After the initial appointments to the board are
made, the board shall meet by January 31 of the following year
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84 HB119 Engrossed
Page 4
made, the board shall meet by January 31 of the following year
for the purpose of organizing and transacting business as may
properly come before the board. Subsequently, the board shall
meet not less than twice annually, and as frequently as it
deems necessary, at such time and places as it designates. A
quorum necessary to transact business shall consist of five of
the members of the board.
(i) The board shall have all of the following duties:
(1) Act on matters concerning licensure and permitting,
and the process of granting, suspending, reinstating, and
revoking a license or permit.
(2) Set a fee schedule for granting licenses and
permits, for renewing licenses and permits, for reinstating a
lapsed license or permit, and for assessing penalties for late
renewal. The fees shall be sufficient to cover the cost of the
continued operation and administration of the board.
(3) Develop a mechanism for processing applications for
licenses, permits, and renewals.
(4) Establish a procedure to enable the investigation
of complaints concerning the violation of ethical practices
for licensed or permitted interpreters.
(5) Maintain a current register of licensed
interpreters and a current register of permitted interpreters.
These registers shall be matters of public record.
(6) Maintain a complete record of all board
proceedings.
(7) Submit an annual report detailing the proceedings
of the board to the Governor and file a copy with the
Secretary of State.
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112 HB119 Engrossed
Page 5
Secretary of State.
(8) Adopt continuing education requirements no later
than October 1 of the year in which the initial board is
appointed. These requirements shall be implemented by January
1 of the year following for renewal of a license or permit.
(j) Board members shall receive the same travel
expenses and per diem as state employees pursuant to Article 2
of Chapter 7 of Title 36 and incidental and clerical expenses
necessarily incurred in carrying out this chapter. The
compensation and expenses shall be paid out of the funds of
the board. Reimbursement shall not be made if available funds
are insufficient for this purpose."
Section 4. The Legislature concurs in the
recommendation of the Sunset Committee as provided in Sections
1, 2, and 3.
Section 5. This act shall become effective on June 1,
2025.
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128 HB119 Engrossed
Page 6
2025.
House of Representatives
Read for the first time and referred
to the House of Representatives
committee on Boards, Agencies and
Commissions
................04-Feb-25
Read for the second time and placed
on the calendar:
0 amendments
................05-Feb-25
Read for the third time and passed
as amended
Yeas 104
Nays 0
Abstains 0
................06-Feb-25
John Treadwell
Clerk
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150