79S10012 RMB-D

By:  Brown of Kaufman                                             H.B. No. 34 



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the appointment of a magistrate in the district courts 
in Henderson County.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 54, Government Code, is amended by 
adding Subchapter EE to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER EE.  MAGISTRATE IN HENDERSON COUNTY
	Sec. 54.1751.  APPOINTMENT.  The judges of the district 
courts in Henderson County, with the consent and approval of the 
Commissioners Court of Henderson County, may jointly appoint a 
magistrate to perform the duties authorized by this subchapter.
	Sec. 54.1752.  QUALIFICATION; OATH OF OFFICE.  To be 
eligible for appointment as a magistrate, a person must be a 
resident of Henderson County, Texas.
	Sec. 54.1753.  JUDICIAL IMMUNITY.  A magistrate has the same 
judicial immunity as a district judge.
	Sec. 54.1754.  POWERS.  Subject to the standing orders of the 
judges of the district courts of Henderson County, the magistrate 
may:
		(1)  direct the Henderson County Pretrial Services 
Program;          
		(2)  investigate applications for personal bonds; and                  
		(3)  issue personal bonds to qualified defendants.                     
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the 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 on the 91st day after the last day of the 
legislative session.