BILL ANALYSIS
By: Chavez
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Associate judges perform an important service to the court system by relieving the burden of district judges to conduct various types of hearing. The purpose of this bill is to expand the statutory ability of associate judges to render final orders where a party has waived certain rights.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
The bill would amend the Family Code to add to the powers of an associate judge by permitting associate judges to render and sign a final order in a case in which a party files a waiver. The bill would also provide that such an order is an order of the referring court.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Immediately on receipt of required vote, otherwise September 1, 2007
Committee amendment number one inserts language to clarify the definition of a waiver for purposes of the relevant statute and amends the bill to provide that an answer filed by a party acts to revoke any previously filed waiver by that party.