BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2781 By: Hightower (Turner) Jurisprudence 5-17-95 Senate Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Article 53.002(a), Government Code, provides that the judges of the 59th, 142nd, 238th, 318th, and 355th district courts may each appoint a bailiff. Additional courts have been added through subsequent legislative sessions. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 2781 authorizes the judges of the 12th, 258th, and 278th district courts to each appoint a bailiff, and sets forth requirements for a person to be eligible to be a bailiff including being a certified law enforcement officer. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 53.002, Government Code, by adding Subsection (f), to authorize the judges of the 12th, 258th, and 278th district courts to each appoint a bailiff. Authorizes a bailiff to serve the court in each county of the district at the judge's discretion. SECTION 2. Amends Section 53.003, Government Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 3. Amends Section 53.004, Government Code, to require a person to be a U.S. citizen and be at least 18 years of age to be eligible to be appointed a bailiff in the 12th, 258th, or 278th District Court. SECTION 4. Amends Sections 53.006(a) and (c), Government Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 5. Amends Section 53.007(a), Government Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 6. Amends Section 53.0071, Government Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 7. Amends Section 53.008, Government Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 8. Amends Section 53.009, Government Code, by adding Subsection (k), to entitle bailiffs of the 12th, 258th, and 278th district courts to receive a salary set by the judge and approved by the commissioners court of each of the counties in which a bailiff is designated to serve. Requires the salary to be apportioned by the judge among the counties in which the bailiff is designated to serve. Requires the judge to give each commissioners court in the district notification of the amount of compensation to be paid by the county out of the general fund of each county. SECTION 9. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.