HBA-ATS, RBT H.B. 1839 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1839
By: Smith
Judicial Affairs
6/4/1999
Enrolled

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The 75th Texas Legislature granted authority to the judge of each district
court in Tarrant County that gives preference to criminal cases to appoint
two persons to serve as bailiffs.  There are eight felony courts that
regularly handle mostly felony cases in Tarrant County.  Prior to the 76th
Legislature, four of the eight courts were unaffected by the legislation
because, although they were criminal district courts, they were not courts
that were statutorily required to give preference to criminal cases.  H.B.
1839 provides that each criminal district court will have the same number
of bailiffs as courts that give preference to criminal cases. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 53.001(e), Government Code, to require the
county sheriff to appoint one bailiff for each criminal district court in
Tarrant County. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 53.002(g), Government Code, to authorize the
judge of each criminal district court in Tarrant County to appoint two
persons to serve as bailiffs.  Authorizes the board of district judges of
the courts in Tarrant County that give preference to criminal cases and the
criminal district courts in Tarrant County to appoint one bailiff for each
grand jury.  Prohibits the number of grand jury bailiffs from exceeding
two.  Makes nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 53.003(b), Government Code, to make conforming
changes. 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 53.004(b), Government Code, to make conforming
changes. 

SECTION 5.  Amends Section 53.006(c), Government Code, to make conforming
changes. 

SECTION 6.  Amends Section 53.007(c), Government Code, to make conforming
changes. 

SECTION 7.  Amends Section 53.008, Government Code, to make conforming
changes. 

SECTION 8.  Amends Section 53.009(f), Government Code, to make conforming
changes. 

SECTION 9.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 10.  Emergency clause.