SRC-SLL S.B. 825 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 825
By: Ellis
Jurisprudence
4-9-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, court coordinators are not 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
employs the coordinators.  Adopting standard continuing education programs
for court coordinators can improve efficiency of the coordinators and the
efficiency of the courts that employ them.  This bill will provide
education requirements for court coordinators. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 825 provides education requirements for court
coordinators. 

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 56.006, Government Code, to authorize the court
of criminal appeals (court) to adopt rules for programs relating to
education and training for court personnel, including court coordinators,
as provided by Section 56.003 and for the administration of those
programs. Makes a conforming change.  

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 74E, Government Code, by adding Section 74.106,
as follows: 

Sec.  74.106.  CONTINUING EDUCATION.  Requires a court coordinator of a
district court or statutory county court, except as provided by Subsection
(b), to annually complete 16 hours of continuing education as provided by
rules adopted by the court under Chapter 56. Prohibits the court from
requiring a court coordinator to complete continuing education instruction
during a year in which the judge employing the court coordinator certifies
to the court that state and local funds are not available for the court
coordinator's continuing education. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.