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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