79R4795 YDB-D

By:  Lindsay                                                      S.B. No. 1832



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the assignment of judges to hear certain cases in the 
Harris County civil courts at law.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 25.1032, Government Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (m) to read as follows:
	(m)  If the judge of a county civil court at law in Harris 
County is disqualified or recused from a case pending before the 
court, the judge of another county civil court at law in Harris 
County shall be assigned to sit for the regular judge and hear the 
case.  If another county civil court judge for Harris County is not 
available or is unable to hear the case because of a 
disqualification or recusal, the presiding judge of the 
administrative judicial region shall appoint as a visiting judge:
		(1)  a retired judge who served as the judge for a 
county or district court in Harris County; or
		(2)  if a judge described by Subdivision (1) is not 
available for the assignment, a former, retired, or active judge 
from another county.
	SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act to Section 
25.1032, Government Code, apply only to the assignment of a judge 
under that section on or after the effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.