Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 1794 amends the Government Code to authorize judges of Travis County statutory county courts that give preference to criminal cases to appoint magistrates. The bill sets forth procedures for appointing these magistrates and provides that a magistrate has the same judicial immunity as a judge of a county court at law. The bill expands the list of proceedings that may be referred to any criminal law magistrate in Travis County and prohibits a magistrate from presiding over a criminal trial that is contested on the merits. Senate Bill 1794 also amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to include in the list of magistrates those appointed by judges of Travis County statutory county courts that give preference to criminal cases.