By Longoria                                           H.B. No. 3107
         76R9113 JMC-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the order of preference for assigning certain visiting
 1-3     judges.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 74.052, Government Code, is amended by
 1-6     adding Subsection (b) to read as follows:
 1-7           (b)  In making an assignment under this chapter, a presiding
 1-8     judge or the chief justice shall give preference to judges in the
 1-9     following order:
1-10                 (1)  a judge described by Subdivision (2), (3), or (4)
1-11     who was elected to serve as a judge in the county or district in
1-12     which the assignment is made;
1-13                 (2)  a retired judge;
1-14                 (3)  a judge who:
1-15                       (A)  was elected to a regular term of office;
1-16                       (B)  served as an elected judge for at least
1-17     eight years; and
1-18                       (C)  was not removed from office; and
1-19                 (4)  a judge who:
1-20                       (A)  was elected to a regular term of office; and
1-21                       (B)  was not removed from office.
1-22           SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
1-23     to the assignment of a judge under Chapter 74, Government Code,
1-24     made on or after the effective date of this Act.  An assignment
 2-1     made before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law
 2-2     in effect at the time the assignment is  made, and that law is
 2-3     continued in effect for that purpose.
 2-4           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
 2-5           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-6     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-7     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-8     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-9     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.