By Nixon                                               H.B. No. 474
         76R2817 MLS-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to notification of assignment of a visiting judge.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 74.053(a), Government Code, is amended to
 1-5     read as follows:
 1-6           (a)  When a judge is assigned under this chapter the
 1-7     presiding judge shall[, if it is reasonable and practicable and if
 1-8     time permits,] give notice of the assignment to each attorney
 1-9     representing a party to the case that is to be heard in whole or
1-10     part by the assigned judge.
1-11           SECTION 2.  This Act applies only to the assignment of a
1-12     judge under Chapter 74, Government Code, made on or after the
1-13     effective date of this Act.  An assignment made before the
1-14     effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect at the
1-15     time the assignment is made, and that law is continued in effect
1-16     for that purpose.
1-17           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-22     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-23     passage, and it is so enacted.