BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 673 By: Thompson Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Currently the statutes regarding the appointment of assigned judges for most types of courts in Texas allow former judges to serve as assigned judges. The statutory probate courts currently only allow the assignment of current or retired judges as assigned judges. This is largely due to the fact that there have been no former statutory probate judges who were not retired. Currently there is such a judge available, who is vested but not of retirement age, and there soon could be other such judges. Due to the caseloads of these courts and the low number of qualified judges for assignment, these judges could still be of service to the statutory probate courts. PURPOSE The purpose of this bill is to allow former statutory probate judges to serve as assigned judges for the statutory probate courts. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of this committee that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to any state official, agency, department, or institution. SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1 amends Sections 25.0022(j), (p), and (s), Government Code, to allow former statutory probate judges to be assigned as statutory probate judges and makes necessary additions in the sections making provisions concerning the assignment of such judges. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION Pursuant to a public notice posted in accordance with House rules, the Committee on Judicial Affairs met in a public hearing on February 21, 1995, to consider House Bill 673. The Chair, Rep. Hartnett, recognized the author, Rep. Thompson, to explain the bill. There were no other witnesses for, on or against the bill. Rep. Goodman moved that H.B. 673 be reported back to the full House, without amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass, be printed and placed on the general calendar. The motion prevailed by the following record vote: 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 PNV and 0 absent.