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.