By: Geren (Senate Sponsor - Nelson) H.B. No. 4750
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 18, 2009;
  May 19, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Jurisprudence; May 23, 2009, reported favorably by the following
  vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 23, 2009, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the appointment of magistrates in the White Settlement
  municipal courts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter DD, Chapter 30, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 30.01137 to read as follows:
         Sec. 30.01137.  MAGISTRATES.  (a)  The governing body may
  appoint one or more magistrates to act on behalf of a municipal
  court of record or a municipal court in the city of White
  Settlement.
         (b)  A magistrate is not required to possess all the
  qualifications necessary to be a municipal court of record judge.
         (c)  A magistrate may not preside over the court or hear
  contested cases.
         (d)  A magistrate may:
               (1)  conduct an arraignment;
               (2)  hold an indigency hearing;
               (3)  accept a plea;
               (4)  sign a judgment;
               (5)  set the amount of a bond; and
               (6)  perform other functions under Article 15.17, Code
  of Criminal Procedure.
         SECTION 2.  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.
 
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