SRC-AAA C.S.S.B. 1383 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1383
By: Harris
Jurisprudence
4-21-97
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

Currently, judges in county criminal court cannot appoint magistrates. In
the interest of judicial efficiency the county criminal court judges of
Tarrant County have requested the ability to appoint magistrates. C.S.S.B.
1383 requires each judge of a county criminal court of Tarrant County to
appoint a certain number of magistrates set by the commissioners court. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 1383 requires each judge of a county criminal court
of Tarrant County to appoint a certain number of magistrates set by the
commissioners court. 

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 54.651(a), Government Code, to add the judges of
the county criminal courts of Tarrant County to the judges required to
jointly appoint a certain number of magistrates set by the commissioners
court. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 54.656(a), Government Code, to authorize a judge
to refer to a magistrate any criminal case for proceedings involving an
occupational driver's license hearing. 

SECTION 3. Amends Section 54.659, Government Code, to require a court to
provide a court reporter to record the proceedings before a magistrate, at
the request of a party in a felony case. 

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.

Amends Section 54.651(a), Government Code, to make a nonsubstantive change.

SECTION 2.

Amends Section 54.656(a), Government Code, to make a nonsubstantive change.