By Nixon                                               H.B. No. 284

         75R2186 SAW-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to notification of assignment of a visiting judge.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 74.053(a), Government Code, is amended to

 1-5     read as follows:

 1-6           (a)  When a judge is assigned under this chapter the

 1-7     presiding judge shall[, if it is reasonable and practicable and if

 1-8     time permits,] give notice of the assignment to each attorney

 1-9     representing a party to the case that is to be heard in whole or

1-10     part by the assigned judge.

1-11           SECTION 2.  This Act applies only to the assignment of a

1-12     judge under Chapter 74, Government Code, made on or after the

1-13     effective date of this Act.  An assignment made before the

1-14     effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect at the

1-15     time the assignment is made, and that law is continued in effect

1-16     for that purpose.

1-17           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.