SRC-JJJ S.B. 1187 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1187
By: Armbrister
Jurisprudence
7/21/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

The Judicial and Court Personnel Training Fund (JCPTF), was created by the
69th Legislature to provide funds for the continuing education of all
judges at all levels of the Texas judiciary, together with clerks and court
personnel working with those judges.  In 1991, the legislature included
prosecutors and their staffs and criminal defense attorneys who represent
indigent defendants, as groups eligible for funding for their training from
JCPTF.  S.B. 1187 will increase court costs regarding the JCPTF. 

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 1187 establishes provisions regarding the Judicial and
Court Personnel Training Fund. 

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 22.110, Government Code, by amending Subsection
(b) and adding Subsection (e), to require the rules adopted by the court of
criminal appeals to require certain judges, masters, referees, and
magistrates to complete certain certified training within the judicial
officer's first four years of service.  Requires the rules to require each
judge and judicial officer to complete additional training in subsequent
terms or four years of service.  Requires the criminal court of appeals or
the court's designee to report the name of a judge or judicial officer who
does not comply with the training requirements to the State Commission on
Judicial Conduct.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 56.001(b), Government Code, to require a person
to pay $2, rather than $1, as a court cost on conviction of any criminal
case.   

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 56.003(b), Government Code, to require no more
than one-third of the funds appropriated to be used for the continuing
legal education of certain appointed court personnel. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: August 31, 1999. Sets forth training
requirements for judges and judicial officers with regard to when the judge
or judicial officer took office.  

SECTION 5.  Emergency clause.