PMWJ H.B. 1492 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


JUDICIAL AFFAIRS
H.B. 1492
By: Hochberg et al.
3-5-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

 Currently, there are no guidelines in Texas law regarding the wearing of
religious apparel by witnesses and others during court proceedings.  This
ambiguity has led to at least 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. 


PURPOSE

 House Bill 1492 establishes a procedure for determining when a judge
shall request the removal of religious apparel. 


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or
institution. 


SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 SECTION 1 adds new Subsec. (c) to Section 21.001 of the Government Code
to specify the conditions under which a judge may request a person to
remove an item of religious apparel during a court proceeding. 

 SECTION 2.  Emergency clause.  Effective date.