SRC-JBJ H.B. 869 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 869
76R1783 MLS-DBy: Goodman (Harris)
Jurisprudence
4/23/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Family Code authorizes the appointment of an associate judge
to preside over any aspect of a suit over which the court has jurisdiction
under specific provisions of the Family Code.  An associate judge may
conduct hearings, hear evidence, make findings of fact on evidence,
formulate conclusions of law, recommend an order to be rendered in a case,
and perform other enumerated functions.  When an associate judge is unable
to sit because of illness, vacation, or attendance at a judicial
conference, family law proceedings are hampered.  H.B. 869 would authorize
counties to fill these vacancies by authorizing the appointment of a
visiting associate judge to perform an associate judge's duties during a
temporary absence, but only if the commissioners court of the county in
which the court sits authorizes such employment. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 869 authorizes the appointment of certain visiting
associate judges. 

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 201A, Family Code, by adding Section 201.018, as
follows: 

Sec. 201.018.  VISITING ASSOCIATE JUDGE.  Authorizes the appointment of a
visiting associate judge, if the county commissioners court authorizes the
employment of a visiting associate judge, to perform an associate judge's
duties during the temporary absence or disability of the associate judge.
Requires a person to have served as an associate judge for at least six
years to be eligible for appointment as a visiting associate judge.
Specifies that Sections 201.001 through 201.017 are applicable to a
visiting associate judge.  Establishes that Section 201.018 does not apply
to a master appointed under Subchapter B.   

SECTION 2.Emergency clause.
  Effective date:  upon passage.