KDB S.B. 250 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 250
By: Harris
Judicial Affairs
4/9/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, a person who is qualified to serve as a temporary
justice of the peace is only eligible if the person has served as a justice
of the peace for not less than four and one-half years.  There is a
shortage of qualified persons who can serve as a temporary justice of the
peace.  Senate Bill 250 expands the list of qualified persons who are
authorized to serve as a temporary justice of the peace. 

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

Senate Bill 250 amends the Government Code to modify the definition of a
"qualified person" who is authorized to be appointed to serve as a
temporary justice of the peace because of the inability of the justice of
the peace to serve to include a person who for not less than four and
one-half years has served as a master or magistrate for a district court or
judge of a district court; a judge of a municipal court, constitutional
county court, statutory county court, or district court; or a justice of an
appellate court; or a person who has served as an attorney for 10 years. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.