SRC-JBJ S.B. 952 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 952 76R3023 MLS-DBy: Luna Jurisprudence 3/11/1999 As Filed DIGEST Currently, a district judge may send a criminal case to the magistrate, but the order referring the case must be in writing. Court cases would be expedited if the judge could read the referral into the docket rather than writing the order. S.B. 952 authorizes a judge to issue a written order of referral or to read the order of referral into the minutes of the court. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 952 authorizes a judge to issue a written order of referral or to read the order of referral into the minutes of the court. 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 Section 54.907(a), Government Code, to authorize a judge to issue a written order of referral or to read the order of referral into the minutes of the court. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.