By:  Smithee (Senate Sponsor - Seliger)                           H.B. No. 596
	(In the Senate - Received from the House March 29, 2005; 
March 30, 2005, read first time and referred to Committee on 
Intergovernmental Relations; May 5, 2005, reported favorably by 
the following vote:  Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 5, 2005, sent to printer.)


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to the appointment of judges to the City of Amarillo 
municipal court.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 30.00934(a), Government Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	(a)  A municipal judge need not be a resident of the city at 
the time of appointment but must, in addition to satisfying the 
requirements of Section 30.00006(c), maintain residence in the city 
during the term of office.  The judge shall devote full time to the 
duties of that office and may not engage in the private practice of 
law while in office.  The restrictions on the residency of and 
private practice by a municipal judge do not apply to a judge 
employed to work less than 40 hours per week.
	SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies to a 
municipal judge serving in office or employed on or after the 
effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 3.  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 September 1, 2005.



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