1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the eligibility for appointment of a visiting associate
 1-3     judge in certain family law cases.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 201.018(b), Family Code, is amended to
 1-6     read as follows:
 1-7           (b)  To be eligible for appointment under this section, a
 1-8     person must have served as an associate judge for at least two
 1-9     [six] years.
1-10           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and
1-11     applies only to the appointment of a visiting associate judge made
1-12     on or after that date.  An appointment made before the effective
1-13     date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date that
1-14     the appointment was made, and the former law is continued in effect
1-15     for that purpose.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1376 was passed by the House on March
         29, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1376 was passed by the Senate on May
         10, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 0, 1 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  __________________________
                              Date
                    __________________________
                            Governor