HBA-KMH H.B. 3499 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3499 By: Puente Judicial Affairs 4/12/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas law limits the cases or aspects of a case that may be referred to an associate judge. H.B. 3499 expands the cases or matters that may be referred by a district judge to an associate judge in Bexar County. This bill also ties an associate judge's salary to that of a district judge for Bexar County. 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 Chapter 54, Government Code, by adding Subchapter P, as follows: SUBCHAPTER P. ASSOCIATE JUDGES IN BEXAR COUNTY Sec. 54.951. APPLICATION. Provides that this subchapter controls over any provision of Subchapter A, Chapter 201, Family Code. Sec. 54.952. CASES THAT MAY BE REFERRED. (a) Authorizes a judge of a district court in Bexar County to refer to an associate judge in Bexar County any case or portion of a case brought under the civil jurisdiction of the appointing court in addition to the cases that may be referred under Section 201.005 (Cases that May Be Referred), Family Code. (b) Authorizes an associate judge to preside over a jury or non-jury trial on the merits of a case brought under the civil jurisdiction of the appointing court. Sec. 54.953. COMPENSATION. Requires an associate judge in Bexar County appointed under Section 201.001 (Appointment), Family Code, to be paid an annual salary determined by the Commissioners Court of Bexar County equal to between 85 percent and 90 percent of the annual salary paid a district judge in Bexar County as set by the General Appropriations Act. Requires the associate judge's salary to be paid from the county fund for payment of officers' salaries. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.