BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1551

By: Herrero

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, the district courts of Nueces County cannot employ more than one official court reporter for a district court.  As a result, the necessary duties of official court reporters are slowed or not completed.  If district courts need additional assistance, they are provided a deputy court reporter in the absence of the official court reporter.  It is possible for additional official court reporters to serve the district courts in certain counties in Texas if a majority of the district court judges believe more official court reporters are necessary. 

H.B. 1551 codifies the established administrative process that allows the district courts of Nueces County to approve, by a majority vote of the district court judges, the employment of additional official court reporters.  This legislation will prohibit the total number of official court reporters serving the district courts of Nueces County from exceeding the amount that equals one and one-half full-time employees multiplied by the number of district courts in Nueces County.

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. 1551 amends the Government Code to authorize the judges of the district courts in Nueces County to employ additional official court reporters to serve the district courts in Nueces County if a majority of the district court judges believe more official court reporters are necessary.  The bill requires the district court judges, by majority vote, to determine the method of hiring the additional official court reporters.  The bill requires the presiding judge of the district courts of Nueces County to determine the assignments of the additional official court reporters.  The bill prohibits the total number of official court reporters serving the district courts of Nueces County from exceeding the amount that equals one and one-half full-time employees multiplied by the number of district courts in Nueces County.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.