BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 659

By: Jackson, Jim

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, a county judge in a constitutional county court in a county of two million or more may appoint full-time magistrates to hear truancy cases, but such a judge does not have the authority to appoint part-time magistrates to hear truancy cases.

H.B. 659 allows a county judge in a county of two million or more to appoint either full-time or part-time magistrates to hear truancy cases, based on need.

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

H.B. 659 amends the Government Code to authorize a county judge in a county with a population of two million or more to appoint one or more part-time magistrates to hear a matter alleging a violation of laws relating to the failure to attend school and a parent's failure to require a child to attend school.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.