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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the appointment and duties of court investigators for |
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certain courts in guardianship proceedings. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1002.009, Estates Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 1002.009. COURT INVESTIGATOR. "Court investigator" |
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means a person appointed by the judge of a statutory probate court |
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under Section 25.0025, Government Code, or a judge under Section |
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1054.156. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1054.152, Estates Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 1054.152. GENERAL DUTIES. A court investigator shall: |
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(1) supervise a court visitor program established |
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under Subchapter C if the court for which the investigator is |
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appointed operates that type of program and, in that capacity, |
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shall serve as the chief court visitor; |
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(2) investigate a complaint received from any person |
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about a guardianship and report to the judge, if necessary; and |
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(3) perform other duties as assigned by the judge or |
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required by this title. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 1054, Estates Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1054.156 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1054.156. APPOINTMENT OF COURT INVESTIGATOR FOR |
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CERTAIN COURTS. (a) The judge of a court as defined by Section |
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1002.008(a)(1) or (2), other than a statutory probate court, may |
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appoint a court investigator if the appointment is authorized by |
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the commissioners court. |
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(b) The commissioners court may authorize additional court |
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investigators for a county if necessary. |
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(c) The commissioners court shall set the salary of a court |
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investigator. |
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(d) The appointment of a court investigator by the judge of |
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a statutory probate court is governed by Section 25.0025, |
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Government Code. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |