1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to criminal law magistrates in Tarrant County.

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

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 54.651(a), Government Code, is amended to

 1-5     read as follows:

 1-6           (a)  The judges of the district courts of Tarrant County that

 1-7     give preference to criminal cases, [and] the judges of the criminal

 1-8     district courts of Tarrant County, and the judges of the county

 1-9     criminal courts of Tarrant County, with the consent and approval of

1-10     the Commissioners Court of Tarrant County, shall jointly appoint

1-11     the number of magistrates set by the commissioners court to perform

1-12     the duties authorized by this subchapter.

1-13           SECTION 2.  Section 54.656(a), Government Code, is amended to

1-14     read as follows:

1-15           (a)  A judge may refer to a magistrate any criminal case for

1-16     proceedings involving:

1-17                 (1)  a negotiated plea of guilty before the court;

1-18                 (2)  a bond forfeiture;

1-19                 (3)  a pretrial motion;

1-20                 (4)  a postconviction writ of habeas corpus;

1-21                 (5)  an examining trial; [and]

1-22                 (6)  an occupational driver's license; and

1-23                 (7)  any other matter the judge considers necessary and

1-24     proper.

 2-1           SECTION 3.  Section 54.659, Government Code, is amended to

 2-2     read as follows:

 2-3           Sec. 54.659.  COURT REPORTER.  At the request of a party in a

 2-4     felony case, the court shall provide a court reporter to record the

 2-5     proceedings before the magistrate.

 2-6           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-7     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-8     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-9     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-10     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

2-11     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

2-12     passage, and it is so enacted.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 3588 was passed by the House on May

         7, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 3588 was passed by the Senate on May

         26, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor