BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3708

By: Oliveira

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

C.S.H.B. 3708 authorizes each district judge in Cameron County to appoint bailiffs and establishes the qualifications of such bailiffs.

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

C.S.H.B. 3708 amends the Government Code to authorize each district court judge in Cameron County to appoint bailiffs.  The bill establishes that to be eligible to be appointed as a bailiff in a district or statutory county court in Cameron County a person must be at least 21 years old, be of good moral character, and hold a peace officer license issued under provisions relating to law enforcement officers from the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 3708 differs from the original by authorizing each district court judge in Cameron County to appoint bailiffs, whereas the original requires each district court judge in Cameron County to appoint a single bailiff. The substitute removes a provision in the original establishing that to be eligible to be appointed as a bailiff in a district or statutory county court in Cameron County a person must be a county resident.