HBA-BSM H.B. 900 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 900 By: Thompson Judicial Affairs 7/19/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE When the current law that governs the administration of statutory probate courts was enacted in 1983, only eight statutory probate courts existed. Since then, more statutory probate courts have been added, and administrative provisions have been added to the law, but not in a comprehensive fashion. The previous system allowed the possibility of misunderstandings between administrative judges and statutory probate courts over who had the jurisdiction to control the docket system of the statutory probate court, and did not fully address current management and administrative needs. House Bill 900 creates a separate statutory probate court administrative system similar to the system already in place for district and statutory county courts, thus giving the court system in Texas a more cohesive structure. 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 900 amends the Government Code to expand the required management and administrative duties of the presiding judge, of the statutory probate courts, and authorize the presiding judge to appoint any committees of statutory probate court judges necessary or desirable for court management and administration. The bill sets forth eligibility requirements for a former or retired judge to serve as a statutory probate court judge, and amends provisions regarding the assignment of statutory probate court judges (Sec. 25.0022). EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.