Relating to the appointment of an interpreter in a criminal proceeding.

SB 1537 requires Texas courts to appoint interpreters in criminal cases when a defendant or witness does not understand English, as determined by a motion from a party or the court. The bill specifies that interpreters must be appointed per Government Code Section 57.002 and sworn to interpret, and it adds that if the appointed interpreter lacks skills or knowledge of slang, the court may allow the defendant or witness to nominate another person to assist as an intermediary during proceedings. This directly affects non-English-speaking defendants and witnesses in Texas criminal trials. The bill does not change who can serve as an interpreter but clarifies the process for ensuring effective communication.