SRC-SLL H.B. 1492 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1492
By: Hochberg (Ellis)
Jurisprudence
4-10-97
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, there are no guidelines in Texas law regarding the wearing of
religious apparel by witnesses and others during court proceedings.  This
has led to one case of a judge requiring a witness to remove religious
apparel without any specific finding that the apparel would interfere with
the fairness of the proceeding.  This bill will prohibit a judge from
requesting that a person remove religious apparel unless certain criteria
are met. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1492 prohibits a judge from requesting that a person
remove religious apparel unless certain criteria are met. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 21.001, Government Code, by adding Subsection
(c), to prohibit a judge, during a court proceeding, from requesting that
a person remove an item of religious apparel unless certain criteria are
met. 

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.