HBA-JLV H.B. 1999 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1999 By: Cook Criminal Jurisprudence 67/11/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law exempts certain counties served by one attorney who is also a judge from the requirement of signing an evidentiary search warrant. Colorado County is part of a four-county district with two district judges who are licensed attorneys, but neither of whom reside in Colorado County. It was recently determined that an evidentiary search warrant issued by a local justice of the peace was improper since two district judges serve Colorado County. Consequently, it was necessary for peace officers seeking an evidentiary search warrant in Colorado County to travel to have an evidentiary search warrant signed. House Bill 1999 authorizes a magistrate to issue a search warrant in a county in which the only judges serving the county who are licensed attorneys are two or more district judges each of whose district includes more than one 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. ANALYSIS House Bill 1999 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to authorize a magistrate to issue a search warrant for property, items, or contraband of an accused in a county in which the only judges serving the county who are licensed attorneys are two or more district judges each of whose district includes more than one county. EFFECTIVE DATE June 16, 2001.