AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently, the County Criminal Courts of Tarrant County are each served by at least two bailiffs.  The judges of County Criminal Courts 1 and 2 have the option to appoint one officer to act as bailiff while the sheriff's office is responsible for appointment of the other.  The remaining County Criminal Courts of Tarrant County do not have the option to appoint one of the bailiffs.

 

S.B. 1887 will provide the judges of County Criminal Courts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of Tarrant County the option to appoint one of the bailiffs who serve their respective courts.

 

As proposed, S.B. 1887 amends current law relating to the appointment of bailiffs in certain county criminal courts of Tarrant County.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 25.2223, Government Code, by amending Subsection (j) and adding Subsections (j-1) and (j-2), as follows:

 

(j) Creates an exception under Section 25.2223(j-2).

 

(j-1) Requires at least two bailiffs to be assigned regularly to the County Criminal Courts Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of Tarrant County. Requires each judge, except as provided by Subsection (j-2), to appoint one officer to act as the bailiff of the judge's court, and requires the sheriff of Tarrant County to appoint a bailiff for each court as prescribed by law.  Requires a bailiff appointed under this subsection to serve at the pleasure of the court and to perform the duties required by the judge of the court to which the bailiff is assigned.

 

(j-2) Authorizes the judge of a county criminal court listed in Subsection (j) or (j-1) to authorize the sheriff to appoint all bailiffs in the judge's court.  Requires the sheriff, if the sheriff is authorized by a judge to make the judge's appointment under this subsection, to appoint at least two officers to act as bailiffs for the judge's court.  Requires a bailiff appointed under this subsection to serve at the pleasure of the court and to perform the duties required by the judge of the court to which the bailiff is assigned.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2011.