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.