BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2935

By: Castro

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law that provides for the appointment of official court reporters does not expressly provide for the appointment of an official court reporter by a criminal law magistrate in Bexar County.

H.B. 2935 seeks to respond to this issue by authorizing a full-time Bexar County criminal law magistrate, with the consent of the Bexar County Commissioners Court, to appoint an official court reporter to serve that magistrate.

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. 2935 amends the Government Code to authorize each full-time Bexar County criminal law magistrate, with the consent and approval of the Commissioners Court of Bexar County, to appoint an official court reporter to serve that magistrate.  The bill establishes that the reporter is a sworn officer of the court who holds office at the pleasure of the magistrate.

EFFECTIVE DATE

October 1, 2011.