AN ACT
 1-1     relating to the referral of cases to certain magistrates.
 1-2           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-3           SECTION 1.  Subsection (a), Section 54.907, Government Code,
 1-4     is amended to read as follows:
 1-5           (a)  To refer one or more cases to a magistrate, a judge must
 1-6     issue an order of referral specifying the magistrate's duties.  The
 1-7     judge may issue a written order of referral or may read the order
 1-8     of referral into the minutes of the court.
 1-9           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-10     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-11     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-12     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-13     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-14     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-15     passage, and it is so enacted.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 952 passed the Senate on
         March 25, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 952 passed the House on
         April 23, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 0, two
         present not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
         Approved:
         _______________________________
                     Date
         _______________________________
                   Governor