PMWJ H.B. 622 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


JUDICIAL AFFAIRS
H.B. 622
By: Thompson
3-5-97
Committee Report (Amended)



BACKGROUND 

 Court coordinators are not currently required to take continuing
education courses.  Changes in law and technology can affect the
performance of court coordinators and the performance of the court that
employees them.  Many people feel that adopting standard  continuing
education programs for court coordinators can improve their efficiency and
the efficiency of the courts that employ them. 


PURPOSE

 The purpose of this bill is to provide for continuing education for court
coordinators where local funding allows. 


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 Section 1 of the bill expressly grants the court of criminal appeals
authority to adopt rules relating to the education and training of court
coordinators. 
 Section 2 of the bill requires that the rules adopted by the court of
criminal appeals pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code, Chapter 56, as described in
Section 1, require that court coordinators obtain 16 hours of continuing
education hours annually unless the judge employing the coordinator
certifies that funds are not available.  


SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 SECTION 1 amends Section 56.006 of the Government Code, to provide that
the court of criminal appeals may adopt rules for and administer
continuing education programs for court coordinators. 

 SECTION 2 adds a new Section 74.106 to Subchapter E of the Government
Code. 
 New Section 74.106 provides that the court coordinator of a district or
statutory county court shall annually complete 16 hours of continuing
education unless the judge employing the coordinator certifies that funds
are not available. 

 SECTION 3.  Effective Date.

 SECTION 4.  Emergency Clause


EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

 District and county clerks may already be required to attend continuing
education programs. Committee Amendment No. 1 inserts "district clerks"
and "county clerks" into the list of persons for whom the court of
criminal appeals may adopt rules for education and training and to monitor
the performance of such programs. 
 For clarity, Committee Amendment No. 2 adds "or commissioners court of
the county" in addition to "judge" as an entity employing the court
coordinator.