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.