SRC-JEC H.B. 1376 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1376 77R5823 KSD-DBy: Menendez (Van de Putte) Jurisprudence 4/12/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Current law allows associate judges to appoint a visiting associate judge to perform the duties of an associate judge who is temporarily absent, disabled, injured, or ill. Currently, to be eligible for an appointment as a visiting associate judge, a person must have served as an associate judge for at least six years. The six-year service requirement reduces the number of visiting associate judges available for such purposes. H.B. 1376 reduces the number of years a person must have served as an associate judge to be eligible for appointment as a visiting associate judge. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 201.018(b), Family Code, to provide that to be eligible for appointment under this section, a person must have served as an associate judge for at least two, rather than six, years. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001. Makes application of this Act prospective.