BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 235

79R2623 YDB-F                                                                                                                By: Harris

                                                                                                                                      Jurisprudence

2/7/2005

As Filed

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently, Tarrant County criminal district courts are served both by bailiffs appointed by the judge and by bailiffs hired by the sheriff.  Sheriff department employees have no residency requirements to serve as a bailiff in the courts; however, a bailiff or grand jury bailiff appointed by a criminal district court judge must reside in Tarrant County.  This creates an inequality and employment restrictions on the bailiffs appointed by the judge and limits the judge's discretion in choosing bailiffs to serve the court.  As proposed, S.B. 235 deletes the residency requirement of bailiffs who are appointed by the criminal district court judges of Tarrant County.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 53.004(b), Government Code, to delete text requiring a bailiff or grand jury bailiff in district court giving preference to criminal cases, or a criminal district court in Tarrant County, to be a resident of that county.  Makes a nonsubstantive change.

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2005.