Amend HB 3384 as follows:
(1) Strike SECTION 6 of the bill, amending Section 54.506,
Government Code, and substitute the following:
SECTION 6. Section 54.506, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 54.506. MATTERS THAT MAY BE REFERRED. A judge may
refer any civil case or portion of a civil case to an associate
judge for resolution [any matter to the master for a finding].
(2) Strike SECTION 9 of the bill, amending Section 54.508,
Government Code, and substitute the following:
SECTION 9. Section 54.508, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 54.508. POWERS. Except as limited by an order of
referral, the associate judge [master] may:
(1) conduct hearings;
(2) hear evidence;
(3) compel production of relevant evidence, including
books, papers, vouchers, documents, and other writings;
(4) rule on admissibility of evidence;
(5) issue summons for the appearance of witnesses;
(6) examine witnesses;
(7) swear witnesses for hearings;
(8) regulate proceedings in a hearing; and
(9) do any act and take any measure necessary and
proper for the efficient performance of the duties required by the
order of referral.
(3) Strike SECTION 10 of the bill, amending Section 54.509,
Government Code, and substitute the following:
SECTION 10. Section 54.509, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 54.509. RECORD OF EVIDENCE. (a) A court reporter may
be provided during a hearing held by an associate judge appointed
under this subchapter. A court reporter is required to be provided
when the associate judge presides over a jury trial.
(b) A party, the associate judge, or the referring court may
provide for a reporter during the hearing if one is not otherwise
provided.
(c) The record may be preserved in the absence of a court
reporter by any other means approved by the associate judge.
(d) The referring court or associate judge may assess the
expense of preserving the record under Subsection (c) as costs.
(e) On appeal of the associate judge's report or proposed
order, the referring court may consider testimony or other evidence
in the record if the record is taken by a court reporter. [At the
request of a party, the master shall make a record of the evidence
offered and excluded. The record must be in the same form as a
record of evidence for a trial court.]