By:  Homer                                                        H.B. No. 3180



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to masters and associate judges for certain family law 
matters..   

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                       
	SECTION 1.  Section 201.101(a), Family Code is amended to 
read as follows:   
	(a)  The presiding judge of each administrative judicial 
region, after conferring with the judges of courts in the region 
having jurisdiction of Title IV-D cases, shall determine which 
courts require the appointment of a full-time or part-time master 
to complete each Title IV-D case within the time specified in this 
subchapter, except in the courts located in Hopkins County.
	SECTION 2.  Section 201.201 (a), Family Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
	(a)  The presiding judge of each administrative judicial 
region, after conferring with the judges of courts in the region 
having family law jurisdiction and substitute care caseload, shall 
determine which courts require the appointment of a full-time or 
part-time associate judge to complete each case within the time 
specified in Chapters 262 and 263, except in the courts located in 
Hopkins County.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.