79R1220 UM-D


By:  Talton                                                       H.B. No. 1220



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the appointment of mental health masters.                         
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 574.0085(a), Health and Safety Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The county judge may appoint a full-time or a part-time 
master to preside over the proceedings for court-ordered mental 
health services or another proceeding under this title if the 
commissioners court of a county in which the court has jurisdiction 
authorizes the employment of a master.
	SECTION 2.  Article 2.09, Code of Criminal Procedure, is 
amended to read as follows:
	Art. 2.09.  WHO ARE MAGISTRATES.  Each of the following 
officers is a magistrate within the meaning of this Code:  The 
justices of the Supreme Court, the judges of the Court of Criminal 
Appeals, the justices of the Courts of Appeals, the judges of the 
District Court, the magistrates appointed by the judges of the 
district courts of Bexar County, Dallas County, or Tarrant County 
that give preference to criminal cases, the criminal law hearing 
officers for Harris County appointed under Subchapter L, Chapter 
54, Government Code, the magistrates appointed by the judges of the 
district courts of Lubbock County or Webb County, the magistrates 
appointed by the judges of the criminal district courts of Dallas 
County or Tarrant County, the masters appointed by the judges of the 
district courts and the county courts at law that give preference to 
criminal cases in Jefferson County, the magistrates appointed by 
the judges of the district courts and the statutory county courts of 
Williamson County, the magistrates appointed by the judges of the 
district courts and statutory county courts that give preference to 
criminal cases in Travis County, the county judges, the judges of 
the county courts at law, judges of the county criminal courts, the 
judges of statutory probate courts, the masters appointed under 
Section 574.0085, Health and Safety Code, the associate judges 
appointed by the judges of the statutory probate courts under 
Subchapter G, Chapter 54, Government Code, the justices of the 
peace, the mayors and recorders and the judges of the municipal 
courts of incorporated cities or towns.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.