BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2411

By: Lucio III

Juvenile Justice & Family Issues

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that authorizing associate judges to hear and render judgments in name change suits would allow these generally uncontroversial suits to be heard faster in counties in which there is an associate judge, which would help relieve the crowded dockets facing some district judges. H.B. 2411 seeks to address this issue.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 2411 amends the Family Code to include a judge of a court with jurisdiction of a suit relating to a name change among the judges authorized to appoint an associate judge and a visiting associate judge to perform certain duties and to authorize a judge to refer to an associate judge any aspect of such a suit.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.