By Reyna of Dallas                                    H.B. No. 1562
         76R5721 MLS-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to matters that may be referred to a criminal law
 1-3     magistrate in Dallas County.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 54.306(a), Government Code, is amended to
 1-6     read as follows:
 1-7           (a)  A judge may refer to a magistrate any matter arising out
 1-8     of a criminal case involving:
 1-9                 (1)  a negotiated plea of guilty or nolo contendere
1-10     before the court;
1-11                 (2)  a bond forfeiture;
1-12                 (3)  a pretrial motion;
1-13                 (4)  a postconviction writ of habeas corpus;
1-14                 (5)  an examining trial;
1-15                 (6)  an occupational driver's license; [and]
1-16                 (7)  an appeal of an administrative driver's license
1-17     revocation hearing; and
1-18                 (8)  any other matter the judge considers necessary and
1-19     proper.
1-20           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-21           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-22     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-23     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-24     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-1     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.