By:  Carona                                           S.B. No. 1767
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the issuance of a protective custody order by a
 1-3     magistrate.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subsection (e), Section 574.021, Health and
 1-6     Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
 1-7           (e)  The judge of the court in which the application is
 1-8     pending may designate a magistrate, as qualified under Section
 1-9     54.302, Government Code, including a magistrate appointed by the
1-10     judge of another court, to issue protective custody orders [in the
1-11     judge's absence].  A magistrate's duty under this section is in
1-12     addition to the magistrate's duties prescribed by other law.
1-13           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-14     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-15     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-16     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-17     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.