By Thompson H.B. No. 2096
74R6910 RJA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the appointment of a special judge to preside in a
1-3 justice court in Harris County.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 75.404(e), Government Code, is amended to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 (e) If a justice of the peace in Harris County is absent or
1-8 for any reason unable to preside, the presiding judge may appoint a
1-9 former justice of the peace or a former county court, statutory
1-10 county court, or district court judge who served as a judge
1-11 <justice of the peace> in this state and who consents to the
1-12 appointment as a special judge to preside for the justice of the
1-13 peace. The presiding judge may designate the duration of the
1-14 appointment, not to exceed 60 days, and may revoke an appointment
1-15 at any time. The qualifications, duties, and powers of a special
1-16 judge are the same as for the regular justice of the peace.
1-17 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the
1-18 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-19 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-20 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-21 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-22 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-23 passage, and it is so enacted.