By Junell H.B. No. 2570 76R4762 MLS-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to bailiffs for municipal courts. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Chapter 53, Government Code, is amended by adding 1-5 Subchapter G to read as follows: 1-6 SUBCHAPTER G. BAILIFFS FOR MUNICIPAL COURTS 1-7 Sec. 53.121. APPOINTMENT. (a) The presiding judge of a 1-8 municipal court shall appoint the marshal of the municipality or 1-9 the marshal's deputy to serve as bailiff for the municipal court. 1-10 (b) If a municipality does not have a marshal, the presiding 1-11 judge shall appoint a police officer of the municipality's police 1-12 department to serve as bailiff. 1-13 Sec. 53.122. TERM OF OFFICE. The bailiff holds office at 1-14 the will of the judge of the municipal court served by the bailiff. 1-15 Sec. 53.123. DUTIES. (a) A bailiff shall perform the 1-16 duties imposed on bailiffs by law and shall perform other duties 1-17 required by the judge of the municipal court that the bailiff 1-18 serves. 1-19 (b) A bailiff shall attend each session of the municipal 1-20 court to which the bailiff is appointed and perform the official 1-21 duties performed by sheriffs and deputies, including serving 1-22 process and warrants. 1-23 Sec. 53.124. BAILIFF AS PEACE OFFICER. A bailiff appointed 1-24 under Section 53.121 is a "peace officer" for purposes of Article 2-1 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure. 2-2 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 2-3 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-4 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-5 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-6 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-7 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.