1-1 By: Hochberg, Crabb, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Ellis) H.B. No. 1492 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House March 26, 1997; 1-3 April 2, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Jurisprudence; April 15, 1997, reported favorably by the following 1-5 vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; April 15, 1997, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the powers of a judge. 1-9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-10 SECTION 1. Section 21.001, Government Code, is amended by 1-11 adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: 1-12 (c) During a court proceeding a judge may not request that 1-13 a person remove an item of religious apparel unless: 1-14 (1) a party in the proceeding objects to the wearing 1-15 of the apparel; and 1-16 (2) the judge concludes that the wearing of the 1-17 apparel will interfere with: 1-18 (A) the objecting party's right to a fair 1-19 hearing; or 1-20 (B) the proper administration of justice; and 1-21 (3) no reasonable alternative exists under which the 1-22 judge may: 1-23 (A) assure a fair hearing; and 1-24 (B) protect the fair administration of justice. 1-25 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 1-26 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-27 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-28 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-29 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-30 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-31 passage, and it is so enacted. 1-32 * * * * *