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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the qualifications to serve as an associate judge in |
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certain family law proceedings. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 201.002, Family Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 201.002. QUALIFICATIONS. (a) Except as provided by |
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Subsection (b), to [To] be eligible for appointment as an associate |
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judge, a person must meet the requirements and qualifications to |
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serve as a judge of the court or courts for which the associate |
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judge is appointed. |
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(b) To be eligible for appointment as an associate judge |
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under Subchapter B or C, a person must meet the requirements and |
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qualifications established under those subchapters. |
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SECTION 2. Section 201.102, Family Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 201.102. APPLICATION OF LAW GOVERNING ASSOCIATE |
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JUDGES. [(a)] Subchapter A applies to an associate judge appointed |
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under this subchapter, except that, to the extent of any conflict |
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between this subchapter and Subchapter A, this subchapter prevails. |
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[(b) An associate judge appointed under this subchapter may
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reside anywhere within the administrative judicial region in which
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the court to which the associate judge is appointed is located. An
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associate judge appointed to serve in two or more administrative
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judicial regions may reside anywhere within the regions.] |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 201, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 201.1021 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 201.1021. QUALIFICATIONS. (a) To be eligible for |
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appointment under this subchapter, a person must be: |
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(1) a citizen of the United States and have resided in |
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the administrative judicial region, or a county adjacent to the |
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region, in which the court to which the person is appointed is |
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located for the two years preceding the date of appointment; and |
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(2) licensed to practice law in this state and have |
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been a practicing lawyer or a judge of a court in this state for the |
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four years preceding the date of appointment. |
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(b) An associate judge appointed under this subchapter |
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shall during the term of appointment reside in the administrative |
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judicial region in which the court to which the associate judge is |
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appointed is located. An associate judge appointed to serve in two |
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or more administrative judicial regions may reside anywhere in the |
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regions. |
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SECTION 4. Section 201.202, Family Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 201.202. APPLICATION OF LAW GOVERNING ASSOCIATE |
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JUDGES. [(a)] Except as provided by this subchapter, Subchapter |
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A applies to an associate judge appointed under this subchapter. |
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[(b) An associate judge may reside anywhere in the
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administrative judicial region in which the court to which the
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associate judge is appointed is located. An associate judge
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appointed to serve in two or more administrative judicial regions
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may reside anywhere in the regions.] |
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SECTION 5. Subchapter C, Chapter 201, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 201.2021 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 201.2021. QUALIFICATIONS. (a) To be eligible for |
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appointment under this subchapter, a person must be: |
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(1) a citizen of the United States and have resided in |
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the administrative judicial region, or a county adjacent to the |
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region, in which the court to which the person is appointed is |
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located for the two years preceding the date of appointment; and |
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(2) licensed to practice law in this state and have |
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been a practicing lawyer or a judge of a court in this state for the |
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four years preceding the date of appointment. |
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(b) An associate judge appointed under this subchapter |
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shall during the term of appointment reside in the administrative |
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judicial region in which the court to which the associate judge is |
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appointed is located. An associate judge appointed to serve in two |
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or more administrative judicial regions may reside anywhere in the |
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regions. |
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SECTION 6. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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the appointment of an associate judge under Subchapters B and C, |
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Chapter 201, Family Code, on or after the effective date of this |
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Act. The appointment of an associate judge before that date is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the appointment was made, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |