HBA-SEP H.B. 534 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 534
By: Thompson
Judicial Affairs
3/26/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under certain circumstances, the presiding judge of a statutory probate
court in Texas can assign a current, former, or retired statutory probate
judge to hear matters in any statutory court exercising probate
jurisdiction.  Such a judge retains the specific jurisdictional powers
assigned the judge and approximates the jurisdictional powers of a sitting
probate judge, but the assigned judge cannot transfer particular causes of
action that are related to the proceedings in the court to which the judge
was assigned.  Without the power to transfer related actions, an assigned
judge is unable to exercise jurisdiction that may promote judicial
efficiency and economy.  House Bill 534 includes transfer of estate and
guardianship proceedings within the jurisdiction, powers, and duties
assigned to statutory probate court judges by general law.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 534 amends the Government Code to include transfer of estate and
guardianship proceedings within the jurisdiction, powers, and duties
assigned to statutory probate court judges by general law.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.