BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 1556
By: Hinojosa
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, the governor is responsible for appointing regional presiding judges with the advice and consent of the senate. However, the Texas Supreme Court is much more aware of the needs and issues of the judiciary system and would be better suited to appoint these positions. Additionally, allowing the chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court to appoint regional presiding judges would improve the line of communication between the various tiers of courts.
C.S.S.B. 1556 requires the chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court, rather than the governor, to appoint regional presiding judges.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to any state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amend Section 74.005, Government Code, as follows:
Sec. 74.005. APPOINTMENT OF REGIONAL PRESIDING JUDGES. (a) Requires the chief justice of the supreme court, rather than the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, to appoint one judge in each administrative region as presiding judge of the region.
(b) Makes a conforming change.
SECTION 2. Provides that the amendment by this Act of Section 74.005, Government Code, does not affect the term of a person appointed under that section before the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2007.