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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the referral of certain criminal proceedings in the |
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Texas-Mexico border region to an associate judge and reimbursement |
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requests for all or part of an associate judge's or interpreter's |
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salary. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 54A.004, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) The commissioners court of a county located in the |
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Texas-Mexico border region, as defined by Section 2056.002, may |
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submit a request to the Texas Judicial Council for reimbursement of |
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all or part of the salary paid to an associate judge to whom judges |
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in the county give preference when referring cases under Section |
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54A.006(a-1) to be paid from money appropriated to the council for |
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border security purposes. The council may adopt rules to implement |
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this subsection. |
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SECTION 2. Section 54A.006, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) A judge whose jurisdiction includes a county located |
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in the Texas-Mexico border region, as defined by Section 2056.002, |
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may refer to an associate judge who serves a county located in the |
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region any matter arising out of a criminal case involving alleged |
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conduct constituting a criminal trespass offense under Section |
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30.05, Penal Code, by a person not lawfully present in the United |
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States. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 57, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 57.003 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 57.003. COMPENSATION. The commissioners court of a |
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county located in the Texas-Mexico border region, as defined by |
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Section 2056.002, may submit a request to the Texas Judicial |
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Council for reimbursement of all or part of the salary paid to an |
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interpreter for services rendered in a case referred under Section |
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54A.006(a-1) to be paid from money appropriated to the council for |
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border security purposes. The council may adopt rules to implement |
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this section. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |