By Ellis                                        S.B. No. 1330

      75R7599 MWV-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the establishment of a system of rural court

 1-3     coordinators.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 74, Government Code, is amended by adding

 1-6     Subchapter H to read as follows:

 1-7                   SUBCHAPTER H.  RURAL COURT COORDINATORS

 1-8           Sec. 74.161.  RURAL COURT COORDINATORS.  (a)  The supreme

 1-9     court by rule may establish a system of rural court coordinators to

1-10     improve justice and expedite the processing of cases in the rural

1-11     courts of this state.

1-12           (b)  The supreme court may appoint the rural court

1-13     coordinators.

1-14           (c)  The supreme court may select the judicial districts that

1-15     are eligible to participate in the rural court coordinator system.

1-16           (d)  Each rural court coordinator serves at the pleasure of

1-17     the supreme court.

1-18           Sec. 74.162.  DUTIES.  (a)  The supreme court shall designate

1-19     the duties of the rural  court coordinators.

1-20           (b)  To promote uniform and efficient administration of

1-21     justice in this state, the rural court coordinators shall cooperate

1-22     with regional presiding and local administrative judges and state

1-23     agencies having duties related to the operation of the courts.

1-24           Sec. 74.163.  STAFF.  The supreme court may appoint

 2-1     appropriate staff and support personnel according to the needs of

 2-2     each rural court coordinator, subject to the availability of funds

 2-3     appropriated by the legislature for that purpose.

 2-4           Sec. 74.164.  COMPENSATION.  The supreme court shall

 2-5     determine reasonable compensation for the rural court coordinators,

 2-6     subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the

 2-7     legislature for that purpose.

 2-8           Sec. 74.165.  OTHER LAW.  This subchapter does not affect

 2-9     other provisions of law relating to the pay and duties of court

2-10     administrators, court managers, and court coordinators other than

2-11     the rural court coordinators appointed by the supreme court.

2-12           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

2-13           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-14     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-15     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-16     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-17     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.