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


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1839
By: Smith
Judicial Affairs
3/9/1999
Introduced



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.  Four of the eight
courts were unaffected by the legislation because, although they are
criminal district courts, they are not courts that are 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.  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.