SRC-JBJ S.B. 1169 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1169
77R3192 QS-DBy: Madla
Criminal Justice
3/26/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, a magistrate in Bexar County is prohibited from entering a
ruling on any issue of law or fact if that ruling could result in dismissal
or require dismissal of a pending criminal prosecution even if the
dismissal is approved by the sitting judge.  As proposed, S.B. 1169 allows
a judge in Bexar County to delegate the signing of certain dismissals to
the judge's magistrate. 

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 54.908, Government Code, to delete existing
Subsection (b) pertaining to the prohibition of a magistrate's ruling on
certain issues. 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.