By: Zaffirini, et al. S.B. No. 40
 
  (Murr)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the bond required and the bond insurance obtained for
  certain judges.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 25.0006, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2), (a-3),
  and (a-4) to read as follows:
         (a)  Notwithstanding any other law except Subsection (a-4),
  Subsections (a-1), (a-2), and (a-3) control over a specific
  provision for a particular court or county that attempts to create a
  requirement for a bond or insurance that conflicts with those
  subsections.
         (a-1)  Before beginning the duties of the office, the [The]
  judge of a statutory county court must execute a bond that:
               (1)  is payable to the treasurer of the county;
               (2)  is in the amount set by the commissioners court of:
                     (A)  subject to Paragraph (B), not less than
  $1,000 nor more than $10,000; or
                     (B)  for a judge presiding in the court over
  guardianship proceedings, as defined by Section 1002.015, Estates
  Code, or over probate proceedings, as defined by Section 22.029,
  Estates Code, not less than:
                           (i)  $100,000 for a court in a county with a
  population of 125,000 or less; or
                           (ii)  $250,000 for a court in a county with a
  population of more than 125,000; and
               (3)  is conditioned that the judge will:
                     (A)  faithfully perform all duties of office; and
                     (B)  for a judge presiding in the court over
  guardianship or probate proceedings, perform the duties required by
  the Estates Code [as prescribed by law for county judges].
         (a-2)  The bond executed as required by Subsection (a-1) must
  be approved by the commissioners court.
         (a-3)  In lieu of the bond required by Subsection
  (a-1)(2)(B), a county may elect to obtain insurance against losses
  caused by the gross negligence of a judge of a statutory county
  court in performing the duties of office. The commissioners court
  of a county shall pay the premium for the insurance out of the
  general funds of the county.
         (a-4)  This section does not apply to:
               (1)  a judge of a statutory county court who does not
  preside over guardianship proceedings, as defined by Section
  1002.015, Estates Code;
               (2)  a judge of a statutory probate court who executes a
  bond, obtains insurance, or self-insures pursuant to Section
  25.00231; or
               (3)  a judge who presides over a county criminal court.
         SECTION 2.  Section 26.001, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 26.001.  BOND. (a)  Before beginning [entering] the
  duties of the office, the county judge must execute a bond that:
               (1)  is payable to the treasurer of the county;
               (2)  is in the amount set by the commissioners court of:
                     (A)  subject to Paragraph (B), not less than
  $1,000 nor more than $10,000; or
                     (B)  for a county judge presiding in the county
  court over guardianship proceedings, as defined by Section
  1002.015, Estates Code, or over probate proceedings, as defined by
  Section 22.029, Estates Code, not less than:
                           (i)  $100,000 for a court in a county with a
  population of 125,000 or less; or
                           (ii)  $250,000 for a court in a county with a
  population of more than 125,000; and
               (3)  is conditioned that the judge will:
                     (A)  faithfully perform all duties of office [pay
  all money that comes into his hands as county judge to the person or
  officer entitled to it]; and
                     (B)  for a county judge presiding in the county
  court over guardianship or probate proceedings, perform the duties
  required by the Estates Code [pay to the county all money illegally
  paid to the judge out of county funds; and
                     [(C)     not vote or consent to pay out county funds
  for other than lawful purposes].
         (b)  The bond executed as required by Subsection (a) must be
  approved by the commissioners court.
         (c)  In lieu of the bond required by Subsection (a)(2)(B), a
  county may elect to obtain insurance against losses caused by the
  gross negligence of a county judge in performing the duties of
  office. The commissioners court of a county shall pay the premium
  for the insurance out of the general funds of the county.
         SECTION 3.  A judge of a statutory county court, a statutory
  probate court, or a constitutional county court who is serving on
  the effective date of this Act shall comply with the requirements of
  Section 25.0006 or 26.001, Government Code, as amended by this Act,
  as applicable, not later than November 1, 2017.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.