HBA-BSM S.B. 618 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 618
By: Van de Putte
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
4/25/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND 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.  Senate
Bill 618 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

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

Senate Bill 618 amends the Family Code to reduce from six to two the number
of years that a person must have served as an associate judge to be
eligible for appointment as a visiting associate judge in certain family
law cases. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.