PMWJ H.B. 1710 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS JUDICIAL AFFAIRS H.B. 1710 By: Lewis of Tarrant 3-26-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Bailiffs assist in keeping order, maintaining security, and increase the efficiency of courtroom proceedings. Sections 53.001 through 53.007, Government Codes provide for the mandatory appointments that judges of certain courts can make regarding bailiffs. Section 53.001(c) states that: "Each criminal court in Tarrant County must have at least three bailiffs assigned regularly to the court. Each judge of a criminal district court in Tarrant County shall appoint two officers of the court to serve as bailiffs for his court." There are currently three state district courts in Tarrant County that handle criminal matters that do not possess the appropriate number of bailiffs as prescribed by law. The 397th District Court in Tarrant County, is currently the only court having the sufficient number of bailiffs appointed. The assigning of the prescribed number of bailiffs for the remaining district courts which give preference to criminal cases in Tarrant County will ensure that these courts have the necessary judicial personnel to handle their respective court dockets and proceedings. PURPOSE HB 1710 provides express authority in statute to hire the prescribed number of bailiffs for efficient court administration of criminal courts in Tarrant County which give preference to criminal cases. It also sets forth procedures, qualifications/eligibility and method of payment for such mandatory appointments. 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 amends Section 53.001(a) and (e), Government Code, relating to the appointment of bailiffs, by striking references to the 297th District Court, and substituting the phrase "the district courts in Tarrant County which give preference to criminal cases." SECTION 2 amends Section 53.003(b), Government Code, relating to notification to the commissioners court of bailiff appointments and salaries, by striking references to the 297th District Court and substituting "each district court in Tarrant County that gives preference to criminal cases." SECTION 3 amends Section 53.004(b), Government Code, relating to eligibility for appointment as a bailiff, by striking references to the 297th District Court and substituting the phrase "a district court in Tarrant County that gives preference to criminal cases." SECTION 4 amends Section 53.006(c), Government Code, relating to duties of the bailiff, by striking references to the 297th District Court and substituting "a district court in Tarrant County that gives preference to criminal cases." SECTION 5 amends Sections 53.007(a) and (c), Government Code, by striking references to the 297th District Court and substituting "a district court in Tarrant County that gives preference to criminal cases." SECTION 6 amends Section 53.008, Government Code, relating to the oaths taken by bailiffs, by striking references to the 297th District Court and substituting "a district court in Tarrant County that gives preference to criminal cases." SECTION 7 amends Section 53.009(f), Government Code, relating to bailiff compensation, by striking references to the 297th District Court and substituting "a district court in Tarrant County that gives preference to criminal cases." SECTION 8. Effective date. SECTION 9. Emergency clause.