HBA-EDN, CBW H.B. 1376 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1376
By: Menendez
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
6/13/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 77th Legislature, associate judges were allowed to appoint a
visiting associate judge to perform the duties of an associate judge who
was temporarily absent, disabled, injured, or ill.  Under previous law, to
be eligible for an appointment as a visiting associate judge, a person must
have served as an associate judge for at least six years.  The six-year
service requirement reduced the number of visiting associate judges
available for such purposes.  House Bill 1376 reduces the number of years a
person must have served as an associate judge to be eligible for
appointment as a visiting associate judge. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1376 amends the Family Code to reduce from six to two the number
of years that a person must have served as an associate judge to be
eligible for appointment as a visiting associate judge, in certain family
law cases. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.