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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. | 
      
      
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        ______________________________ | 
        ______________________________ | 
      
      
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           President of the Senate | 
        Speaker of the House      | 
      
      
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               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1016 passed the Senate on  | 
      
      
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        May 4, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0. | 
      
      
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        ______________________________ | 
      
      
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        Secretary of the Senate     | 
      
      
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               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1016 passed the House on  | 
      
      
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        May 24, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 0, one  | 
      
      
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        present not voting. | 
      
      
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        ______________________________ | 
      
      
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        Chief Clerk of the House    | 
      
      
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        Approved: | 
      
      
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        ______________________________  | 
      
      
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                    Date | 
      
      
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        ______________________________  | 
      
      
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                  Governor |