SRC-MAX S.B. 1840 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1840
By: Harris
Jurisprudence
5-5-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, certain attorneys or other employees that work for district
attorney's, county attorney's, or city attorney's offices are allowed to
run for elected judgeship.  Instances have arisen in which judges have
reported difficulties resulting from this allowance.  This bill
establishes a statewide policy that employees of district attorney, county
attorney, or city attorney offices are prohibited from running for an
elected judicial office under certain conditions. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1840 prohibits certain persons from running for an
elected judicial office under certain conditions.  

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 Chapter 41B, Government Code, by adding Section 41.110,
as follows: 

Sec.  41.110.  PROHIBITION ON RUNNING FOR ELECTED JUDICIAL OFFICE.
Provides that certain persons are prohibited from running for an elected
judicial office while maintaining employment with the district or county
attorney's office.   

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 180, Local Government Code, by adding Section
180.004, as follows: 

Sec.  180.004.  CERTAIN MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES PROHIBITED FROM RUNNING FOR
ELECTED JUDICIAL OFFICE.  Provides that all paid employees of a city
attorney's office are prohibited from running for an elected judicial
office while maintaining employment with the city attorney's office. 

SECTION 3. Effective date:  September 1, 1997.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.