By Nixon S.B. No. 1648
74R9269 MWV-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the abolishment of administrative judicial regions.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 71.012(a), Government Code, is amended to
1-5 read as follows:
1-6 (a) The ex officio members are:
1-7 (1) the chief justice of the supreme court;
1-8 (2) the presiding judge of the court of criminal
1-9 appeals;
1-10 (3) the chairman of the Senate Jurisprudence
1-11 Committee;
1-12 (4) the immediate past chairman of the Senate
1-13 Jurisprudence Committee;
1-14 (5) the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee;
1-15 (6) the immediate past chairman of the House Judiciary
1-16 Committee; and
1-17 (7) two justices of the courts of appeals designated
1-18 by the governor<; and>
1-19 <(8) two presiding judges of the administrative
1-20 judicial regions designated by the governor>.
1-21 SECTION 2. Section 71.013(b), Government Code, is amended to
1-22 read as follows:
1-23 (b) Justices of the courts of appeals <and presiding judges
1-24 of the administrative judicial regions> are members of the council
2-1 for staggered terms of four years with one justice's <and one
2-2 judge's> term expiring on February 1 of each odd-numbered year.
2-3 SECTION 3. Section 72.023(b), Government Code, is amended to
2-4 read as follows:
2-5 (b) The director shall consult with the <regional presiding
2-6 judges and> local administrative judges and assist them in
2-7 discharging duties imposed by law or by a rule adopted by the
2-8 supreme court.
2-9 SECTION 4. Section 74.092, Government Code, is amended to
2-10 read as follows:
2-11 Sec. 74.092. Duties of Local Administrative Judge. A local
2-12 administrative judge, for the courts for which the judge serves as
2-13 local administrative judge, shall:
2-14 (1) implement and execute the local rules of
2-15 administration, including the assignment, docketing, transfer, and
2-16 hearing of cases;
2-17 (2) appoint any special or standing committees
2-18 necessary or desirable for court management and administration;
2-19 (3) promulgate local rules of administration if the
2-20 other judges do not act by a majority vote;
2-21 (4) <recommend to the regional presiding judge any
2-22 needs for assignment from outside the county to dispose of court
2-23 caseloads;>
2-24 <(5)> supervise the expeditious movement of court
2-25 caseloads, subject to local<, regional,> and state rules of
2-26 administration;
2-27 (5) <(6)> provide the supreme court and the office of
3-1 court administration requested statistical and management
3-2 information;
3-3 (6) <(7)> set the hours and places for holding court
3-4 in the county;
3-5 (7) <(8)> supervise the employment and performance of
3-6 nonjudicial personnel;
3-7 (8) <(9)> supervise the budget and fiscal matters of
3-8 the local courts, subject to local rules of administration;
3-9 (9) <(10)> coordinate and cooperate with any other
3-10 local administrative judge in the district in the assignment of
3-11 cases in the courts' concurrent jurisdiction for the efficient
3-12 operation of the court system and the effective administration of
3-13 justice; and
3-14 (10) <(11)> perform other duties as may be directed by
3-15 the chief justice <or a regional presiding judge>.
3-16 SECTION 5. Section 74.102(b), Government Code, is amended to
3-17 read as follows:
3-18 (b) To promote uniform and efficient administration of
3-19 justice in this state, the court coordinators shall cooperate with
3-20 <regional presiding and> local administrative judges and state
3-21 agencies having duties in the area of the operation of the courts.
3-22 SECTION 6. The following are repealed:
3-23 (1) Section 74.001, Government Code;
3-24 (2) Section 74.005, Government Code;
3-25 (3) Subchapter C, Chapter 74, Government Code; and
3-26 (4) Subchapter C, Chapter 75, Government Code.
3-27 SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
4-1 SECTION 8. The importance of this legislation and the
4-2 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-3 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-4 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-5 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.