81R3742 YDB-D
 
  By: Bonnen H.B. No. 1750
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of criminal law magistrates for Brazoria
  County.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 54, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter HH to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER HH. BRAZORIA COUNTY CRIMINAL MAGISTRATES
         Sec. 54.1851.  APPOINTMENT.  (a)  The Commissioners Court of
  Brazoria County may select magistrates to serve the courts of
  Brazoria County having jurisdiction in criminal matters.
         (b)  The commissioners court shall establish the minimum
  qualifications, salary, benefits, and other compensation of each
  magistrate position and shall determine whether the position is
  full-time or part-time. The qualifications must require the
  magistrate to have served as a justice of the peace or be an
  attorney licensed in this state.
         (c)  A magistrate appointed under this section serves at the
  pleasure of the commissioners court.
         Sec. 54.1852.  JURISDICTION. A magistrate has concurrent
  criminal jurisdiction with the judges of the justice of the peace
  courts of Brazoria County.
         Sec. 54.1853.  POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The Commissioners
  Court of Brazoria County shall establish the powers and duties of a
  magistrate appointed under this subchapter. Except as otherwise
  provided by the commissioners court, a magistrate has the powers of
  a magistrate under the Code of Criminal Procedure and other laws of
  this state and may administer an oath for any purpose.
         (b)  A magistrate shall give preference to performing the
  duties of a magistrate under Article 15.17, Code of Criminal
  Procedure.
         (c)  The commissioners court may designate one or more
  magistrates to hold regular hearings to:
               (1)  give admonishments;
               (2)  set and review bail and conditions of release;
               (3)  appoint legal counsel; and
               (4)  determine other routine matters relating to
  preindictment or pending cases within those courts' jurisdiction.
         (d)  In the hearings provided under Subsection (c), a
  magistrate shall give preference to the case of an individual held
  in county jail.
         (e)  A magistrate may inquire into a defendant's intended
  plea to the charge and set the case for an appropriate hearing
  before a judge or master.
         Sec. 54.1854.  JUDICIAL IMMUNITY. A magistrate has the same
  judicial immunity as a district judge.
         Sec. 54.1855.  WITNESSES. (a) A witness who is sworn and
  who appears before a magistrate is subject to the penalties for
  perjury and aggravated perjury provided by law.
         (b)  A referring court may fine or imprison a witness or
  other court participant for failure to appear after being summoned,
  refusal to answer questions, or other acts of direct contempt
  before a magistrate.
         SECTION 2.  Article 2.09, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Art. 2.09.  WHO ARE MAGISTRATES.  Each of the following
  officers is a magistrate within the meaning of this Code:  The
  justices of the Supreme Court, the judges of the Court of Criminal
  Appeals, the justices of the Courts of Appeals, the judges of the
  District Court, the magistrates appointed by the judges of the
  district courts of Bexar County, Dallas County, or Tarrant County
  that give preference to criminal cases, the criminal law hearing
  officers for Harris County appointed under Subchapter L, Chapter
  54, Government Code, the criminal law hearing officers for Cameron
  County appointed under Subchapter BB, Chapter 54, Government Code,
  the magistrates appointed by the judges of the district courts of
  Lubbock County, Nolan County, or Webb County, the magistrates
  appointed by the judges of the criminal district courts of Dallas
  County or Tarrant County, the masters appointed by the judges of the
  district courts and the county courts at law that give preference to
  criminal cases in Jefferson County, the magistrates appointed by
  the judges of the district courts and the statutory county courts of
  Brazos County, Nueces County, or Williamson County, the magistrates
  appointed by the judges of the district courts and statutory county
  courts that give preference to criminal cases in Travis County, the
  criminal magistrates appointed by the Brazoria County
  Commissioners Court, the county judges, the judges of the county
  courts at law, judges of the county criminal courts, the judges of
  statutory probate courts, the associate judges appointed by the
  judges of the statutory probate courts under Subchapter G, Chapter
  54, Government Code, the justices of the peace, and the mayors and
  recorders and the judges of the municipal courts of incorporated
  cities or towns.
         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, 2009.