S.B. No. 821
 
AN ACT
relating to the use of certain excess contributions to the judicial
fund that are remitted to certain counties.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Subsection (b), Section 25.00213, Government
Code, is amended to read as follows:
       (b)  Money in a contributions fund created under this section
may be used only for court-related purposes for the support of the
statutory probate courts in the county, including for the payment
of the compensation of a statutory probate court associate judge in
accordance with Section 54.605.
       SECTION 2.  Section 54.605, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
follows:
       (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), the [The]
compensation of the associate judge shall be paid by the county from
the county general fund. The compensation must be paid in the same
manner that the appointing judge's salary is paid.
       (c)  On the recommendation of the statutory probate court
judges in the county and subject to the approval of the county
commissioners court, the county may pay all or part of the
compensation of the associate judge from the excess contributions
remitted to the county under Section 25.00212 and deposited in the
contributions fund created under Section 25.00213.
       SECTION 3.  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, 2007.
____________________________________________________________
President of the Senate             Speaker of the House
       I hereby certify that S.B. No. 821 passed the Senate on
April 12, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________ 
   Secretary of the Senate
       I hereby certify that S.B. No. 821 passed the House on
May 17, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, two
present not voting.
______________________________ 
   Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________ 
______________________________ 
            Date
______________________________ 
______________________________ 
          Governor