By Thompson H.B. No. 3662
77R8578 YDB-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the administration of the justice courts of Harris
1-3 County.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Sections 75.404(d), (e), and (h), Government Code,
1-6 are amended to read as follows:
1-7 (d) The presiding judge shall:
1-8 (1) preside at any session of the judges;
1-9 (2) keep a record of the decisions of the judges;
1-10 (3) appoint special or standing committees necessary
1-11 for court management and administration;
1-12 (4) implement local rules, including assignment,
1-13 docketing, transfer, and hearings of cases; and
1-14 (5) provide statistical and management information
1-15 requested by the supreme court or the Office of Court
1-16 Administration of the Texas Judicial System.
1-17 (e) If a justice of the peace in Harris County is absent or
1-18 for any reason unable to preside, the presiding judge may appoint,
1-19 in addition to a qualified person authorized by law, a former
1-20 justice of the peace or a former county court, statutory county
1-21 court, or district court judge who served as a judge in this state
1-22 and who consents to the appointment as a special judge to preside
1-23 for the justice of the peace. The presiding judge may designate
1-24 the duration of the appointment, not to exceed 60 days, and may
2-1 revoke an appointment at any time. The duties and powers of a
2-2 special judge are the same as for the regular justice of the peace.
2-3 (h) A local rule may be adopted [only] by two-thirds [the
2-4 unanimous] vote of the [all 16] justices of the peace.
2-5 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.