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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to bail bond boards in certain counties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 1704, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1704.0531 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1704.0531. BOARD COMPOSITION IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) |
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This section applies only in a county with a population of 700,000 |
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or more but less than 780,000. |
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(b) A board in a county described by Subsection (a) consists |
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of nine members as follows: |
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(1) a licensed bail bond surety or agent for a |
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corporate surety in the county; |
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(2) two criminal defense attorneys practicing in the |
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county; |
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(3) the county judge; |
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(4) the county clerk; |
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(5) the district clerk; |
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(6) a justice of the peace; |
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(7) the sheriff or a designee from the sheriff's |
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office; and |
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(8) a judge of a district or county court having |
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jurisdiction over criminal matters in the county. |
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(c) The members described by Subsections (b)(1), (2), and |
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(6) shall be elected as provided by Section 1704.0535. Each judge |
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of a district or county court having criminal jurisdiction in the |
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county is entitled to cast one vote at a secret ballot election |
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conducted by the board annually to elect the board member described |
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by Subsection (b)(8). |
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(d) The board shall elect a presiding officer from its |
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members to serve a one-year term. A member may not serve more than |
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two consecutive terms as presiding officer. |
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(e) The provisions of Chapter 551, Government Code, apply to |
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the board. |
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(f) The board shall prepare and maintain minutes of each |
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board meeting. |
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(g) A board member who has a substantial interest in a |
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business entity, as determined by Section 171.002, Local Government |
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Code, must file, before a vote or decision on any matter involving |
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the business entity, an affidavit stating the nature and extent of |
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the interest and shall abstain from further participation in the |
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matter. |
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SECTION 2. On the effective date of this Act, the term of a |
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member of an existing bail bond board in a county to which Section |
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1704.0531, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, applies, who is |
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not a member of the board established under that section, is |
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terminated. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |