BILL ANALYSIS



S.B. 1062
By: Wentworth (Goodman)
4-20-95
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

     The duties of the chief justice of the supreme court make it
difficult for the chief justice to be absent from the court for any
length of time without disrupting the court's business.


PURPOSE

     As proposed, S.B. 1062 authorizes the justice with the most
seniority on the supreme court to sign a court document for the
chief justice in the chief justice's absence if the chief justice
has given that justice written authorization.


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

     It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant
any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer,
institution, department or agency.


SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

     SECTION 1.     Amends Chapter 22A, Government Code, by adding
Section 22.014, as follows:
           Sec. 22.014.  SENIOR JUSTICE ACTING FOR CHIEF JUSTICE. 
     Authorizes the justice with the most seniority on the supreme
     court to sign a court document for the chief justice in the
     chief justice's absence if the chief justice has given that
     justice written authorization.
     SECTION 2.     Emergency clause.  Effective date.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

     Pursuant to a public notice posted on April 6, 1995, the
Committee on Judicial Affairs met in a formal meeting on April 20,
1995, to consider H.B. 2734.  The Senate companion, S.B. 1062, was
over and eligible.  Without objection, the Chair laid out S.B. 1062
in lieu of the House companion and recognized the House sponsor,
Rep. Goodman, to explain the bill.  Rep. Thompson moved that S.B.
1062 be reported favorably back to the full House with the
recommendation that it do pass, be printed and sent to the Local &
Consent Calendars Committee.  The motion prevailed by the following
record vote:  7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 PNV and 2 absent.