By:  Tallas                                           H.B. No. 2826
       73R5869 RJA-F
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to a court administrator in Fort Bend County.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Chapter 75, Government Code, is amended by adding
    1-5  Subchapter H to read as follows:
    1-6        SUBCHAPTER H.  COURT ADMINISTRATOR IN FORT BEND COUNTY
    1-7        Sec. 75.521.  APPLICATION.  This subchapter applies to the
    1-8  district courts and county courts at law in Fort Bend County.
    1-9        Sec. 75.522.  ESTABLISHMENT OF SYSTEM.  The courts may
   1-10  establish a court administrator system to improve the
   1-11  administration of justice and to expedite the processing of civil
   1-12  and criminal cases.
   1-13        Sec. 75.523.  APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF COURT ADMINISTRATOR.
   1-14  (a)  The court administrator is appointed by and serves at the
   1-15  pleasure of the judges of the courts subject to this subchapter.
   1-16        (b)  The courts shall designate by rule the duties of the
   1-17  court administrator.
   1-18        (c)  To promote uniform and efficient administration of
   1-19  justice, the court administrator shall cooperate with
   1-20  administrative judges and state agencies with duties relating to
   1-21  the operation of the courts.
   1-22        Sec. 75.524.  COMPENSATION AND FACILITIES.  A court
   1-23  administrator is entitled to reasonable compensation, facilities,
   1-24  and equipment as determined by the judges of the courts served,
    2-1  with the approval of the commissioners court.  The commissioners
    2-2  court shall fund the court administrator system from general funds
    2-3  of the county.
    2-4        Sec. 75.525.  STAFF.  The judges of the courts served by the
    2-5  court administrator may appoint the necessary staff and support
    2-6  personnel for the court administrator.
    2-7        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-8  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-9  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-10  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-11  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   2-12  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   2-13  passage, and it is so enacted.