79R5969 KLA-D

By:  Armbrister                                                   S.B. No. 1534



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the appointment of a bailiff for the 22nd District 
Court.       
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 53.001(a), Government Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	(a)  The judges of the [22nd,] 30th, 70th, 71st, 78th, 89th, 
161st, and 341st district courts, the judges of the district courts 
having jurisdiction in Taylor County, the judges of the county 
courts at law of Taylor County, and the judge of the County Court of 
Harrison County shall each appoint a bailiff.
	SECTION 2.  Section 53.004(a), Government Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	(a)  A bailiff in the [22nd,] 34th, 70th, 71st, or 161st 
district court must be a resident of the county in which he serves 
the court and must be at least 18 years old.
	SECTION 3.  Section 53.007(a), Government Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	(a)  This section applies to:                                                  
		(1)  the [22nd,] 34th, 70th, 71st, 86th, 97th, 142nd, 
161st, 238th, 318th, 341st, 355th, and 385th district courts;
		(2)  the County Court of Harrison County;                                     
		(3)  the criminal district courts of Tarrant County;                          
		(4)  the district courts in Taylor County;                                    
		(5)  the courts described in  Section 53.002(c), (d), 
(e), or (f);          
		(6)  the county courts at law of Taylor County;  and                          
		(7)  the district courts in Tarrant County that give 
preference to criminal cases.
	SECTION 4.  Section 53.008, Government Code, is amended to 
read as follows:  
	Sec. 53.008.  OATH.  The bailiffs of the [22nd,] 34th, 70th, 
86th, 97th, 142nd, 161st, 238th, 318th, 341st, 355th, and 385th 
district courts, the bailiffs of the courts described in Section 
53.002(c), (d), (e), or (f), the bailiffs and the grand jury 
bailiffs of the district courts in Tarrant County that give 
preference to criminal cases, the bailiffs and grand jury bailiffs 
of the criminal district courts in Tarrant County, the bailiffs of 
the district courts in Taylor County, and the bailiffs of the county 
courts at law of Taylor County shall each swear to the following 
oath, to be administered by the judge:  "I solemnly swear that I 
will faithfully and impartially perform all duties as may be 
required of me by law, so help me God."
	SECTION 5.  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.