82R10673 YDB-F
 
  By: Miller of Comal H.B. No. 2310
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to appointment of bailiffs for the district courts in
  Comal, Hays, and Caldwell Counties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 53.001(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The judges of the [22nd,] 30th, 70th, 71st, 78th, 89th,
  161st, and 341st district courts, the judges of the district courts
  having jurisdiction in Taylor County, the judges of the county
  courts at law of Taylor County, and the judge of the County Court of
  Harrison County shall each appoint a bailiff.
         SECTION 2.  Section 53.002, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (i) and adding Subsections (j) and (k) to read
  as follows:
         (i)  The local administrative judge of the district courts in
  Comal County [207th District Court] may appoint two or more
  bailiffs [a bailiff] to serve the district courts [court] in Comal
  County as the judge determines necessary for the efficient
  operation of the district courts, subject to the approval of a
  majority of the district judges of those courts [the local
  administrative judge].  A bailiff appointed under this subsection
  is entitled to the salary recommended by the local administrative
  judge, subject to the approval of the commissioners court of Comal
  County.
         (j)  The local administrative judge of the district courts in
  Hays County may appoint two or more bailiffs to serve the district
  courts in Hays County as the judge determines necessary for the
  efficient operation of the district courts, subject to the approval
  of a majority of the district judges of those courts.  A bailiff
  appointed under this subsection is entitled to the salary
  recommended by the local administrative judge, subject to the
  approval of the commissioners court of Hays County.
         (k)  The local administrative judge of the district courts in
  Caldwell County may appoint two or more bailiffs to serve the
  district courts in Caldwell County as the judge determines
  necessary for the efficient operation of the district courts,
  subject to the approval of a majority of the district judges of
  those courts. A bailiff appointed under this subsection is
  entitled to the salary recommended by the local administrative
  judge, subject to the approval of the commissioners court of
  Caldwell County.
         SECTION 3.  Section 53.004(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  A bailiff in the [22nd,] 34th, 70th, 71st, or 161st
  district court must be a resident of the county in which the bailiff 
  [he] serves the court and must be at least 18 years old.
         SECTION 4.  Section 53.007(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  This section applies to:
               (1)  the [22nd,] 34th, 70th, 71st, 86th, 97th, 130th,
  142nd, 161st, 238th, 318th, 341st, 355th, and 385th district
  courts;
               (2)  the County Court of Harrison County;
               (3)  the criminal district courts of Tarrant County;
               (4)  the district courts in Taylor County;
               (5)  the courts described in Section 53.002(c), (d),
  (e), or (f);
               (6)  the county courts at law of Taylor County;
               (7)  the district courts in Tarrant County that give
  preference to criminal cases; and
               (8)  the 115th District Court in Upshur County.
         SECTION 5.  Section 53.008, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 53.008.  OATH. The bailiffs of the [22nd,] 34th, 70th,
  86th, 97th, 130th, 142nd, 161st, 238th, 318th, 341st, 355th, and
  385th district courts, the bailiffs of the courts described in
  Section 53.002(c), (d), (e), or (f), the bailiffs and the grand jury
  bailiffs of the district courts in Tarrant County that give
  preference to criminal cases, the bailiffs and grand jury bailiffs
  of the criminal district courts in Tarrant County, the bailiffs of
  the district courts in Taylor County, and the bailiffs of the county
  courts at law of Taylor County shall each swear to the following
  oath, to be administered by the judge:  "I solemnly swear that I
  will faithfully and impartially perform all duties as may be
  required of me by law, so help me God."
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.