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.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 3662 was passed by the House on April
         27, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 3662 was passed by the Senate on May
         17, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0, 1 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  __________________________
                              Date
                    __________________________
                            Governor