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.