BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1386 By: Wentworth Jurisprudence 4-12-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND The justices and judges of the supreme court, court of criminal appeals, and the courts of appeals are not eligible to sit as visiting trial judges. Both the judicial system and the individual members of the high courts may benefit from the occasional service of the high court justices and judges on the trial bench. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1386 authorizes certain appellate judges or justices to be assigned to serve as a visiting trial judge. 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 74.054(a), Government Code, to authorize an active judge or justice of the supreme court, the court of criminal appeals, or a court of appeals who has had trial court experience, among others, to be assigned as provided by this chapter by the presiding judge of the administrative region in which the assigned judge resides. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Amends Section 74.060, Government Code, by adding Subsection (b), to prohibit an active judge or justice of certain courts from being assigned if the judge or justice has served 14 or more days as a visiting judge in the year in which the assignment is to be made. Applies this subsection only to an initial assignment to a case and does not affect a judge's or justice's continuing to sit in a particular case. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 3. Amends Section 74.061(g), Government Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 4. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.