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.