Amend CSHB 3474 (senate committee report) as follows:

(1)  Strike the following SECTIONS of ARTICLE 1 of the bill and renumber subsequent SECTIONS of ARTICLE 1 of the bill accordingly:

(A)  SECTION 1.002, amending Section 24.275, Government Code (page 1, lines 42 through 60);

(B)  SECTION 1.010, amending Section 24.596, Government Code (page 3, lines 2 through 24); and

(C)  SECTION 1.019, adding Section 24.60044, Government Code (page 4, lines 51 through 58).

(2)  In ARTICLE 1 of the bill, in SECTION 1.015, strike added Section 24.60038, Government Code (page 3, lines 64 and 65) and substitute the following:

(3)  In ARTICLE 1 of the bill, in SECTION 1.016, strike added Section 24.60039, Government Code (page 3, line 71 through page 4, line 1) and substitute the following:

(4)  Add the following appropriately numbered SECTIONS to ARTICLE 5 of the bill and renumber subsequent SECTIONS of ARTICLE 5 of the bill accordingly:

SECTION 5.___.  Section 201.105(a), Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a)  An associate judge appointed under this subchapter is entitled to a salary in the amount equal to 90 percent of the annual [state base] salary paid to a district judge with comparable years of service as the associate judge as set by the General Appropriations Act in accordance with Section 659.012 [659.012(a)], Government Code.

SECTION 5.___.  Section 201.205(a), Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a)  An associate judge appointed under this subchapter is entitled to a salary in the amount equal to 90 percent of the annual [state base] salary paid to a district judge with comparable years of service as the associate judge as set by the General Appropriations Act in accordance with Section 659.012 [659.012(a)], Government Code.

(5)  Add the following appropriately numbered SECTION to ARTICLE 10 of the bill and renumber subsequent SECTIONS of ARTICLE 10 of the bill accordingly:

SECTION 10.___.  Section 30.012(b), Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b)  Witness testimony at trial in a district or statutory county court may be conducted by electronic means only if the witness is deposed before the commencement of the trial. Neither the court nor any party may waive the requirement to depose the witness under this subsection if any party objects.