Bill Text: TX HB2310 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relating to appointment of bailiffs for the district courts in Comal, Hays, and Caldwell Counties.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 2)

Status: (Passed) 2011-06-17 - Effective on 9/1/11 [HB2310 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-HB2310-Enrolled.html

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H.B. No. 2310

AN ACT
relating to appointment of bailiffs for the district courts in
Comal, Hays, and Caldwell Counties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 53.001(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The judges of the [22nd,] 30th, 70th, 71st, 78th, 89th,
161st, and 341st district courts, the judges of the district courts
having jurisdiction in Taylor County, the judges of the county
courts at law of Taylor County, and the judge of the County Court of
Harrison County shall each appoint a bailiff.
SECTION 2. Section 53.002, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (i) and adding Subsections (j) and (k) to read
as follows:
(i) The local administrative judge of the district courts in
Comal County [207th District Court] may appoint two or more
bailiffs [a bailiff] to serve the district courts [court] in Comal
County as the judge determines necessary for the efficient
operation of the district courts, subject to the approval of a
majority of the district judges of those courts [the local
administrative judge]. A majority of the district judges of those
courts may remove a bailiff appointed under this subsection. The
local administrative judge may not appoint more than two bailiffs
under this subsection unless the funding for the additional
bailiffs is approved by the commissioners court of Comal County
before the appointment. A bailiff appointed under this subsection
is entitled to the salary recommended by the local administrative
judge, subject to the approval of the commissioners court.
(j) The local administrative judge of the district courts in
Hays County may appoint two or more bailiffs to serve the district
courts in Hays County as the judge determines necessary for the
efficient operation of the district courts, subject to the approval
of a majority of the district judges of those courts. A majority of
the district judges of those courts may remove a bailiff appointed
under this subsection. The local administrative judge may not
appoint more than two bailiffs under this subsection unless the
funding for the additional bailiffs is approved by the
commissioners court of Hays County before the appointment. A
bailiff appointed under this subsection is entitled to the salary
recommended by the local administrative judge, subject to the
approval of the commissioners court.
(k) The local administrative judge of the district courts in
Caldwell County may appoint two or more bailiffs to serve the
district courts in Caldwell County as the judge determines
necessary for the efficient operation of the district courts,
subject to the approval of a majority of the district judges of
those courts. A majority of the district judges of those courts may
remove a bailiff appointed under this subsection. The local
administrative judge may not appoint more than two bailiffs under
this subsection unless the funding for the additional bailiffs is
approved by the commissioners court of Caldwell County before the
appointment. A bailiff appointed under this subsection is entitled
to the salary recommended by the local administrative judge,
subject to the approval of the commissioners court.
SECTION 3. Section 53.004(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) A bailiff in the [22nd,] 34th, 70th, 71st, or 161st
district court must be a resident of the county in which the bailiff
[he] serves the court and must be at least 18 years old.
SECTION 4. Section 53.007(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) This section applies to:
(1) the [22nd,] 34th, 70th, 71st, 86th, 97th, 130th,
142nd, 161st, 238th, 318th, 341st, 355th, and 385th district
courts;
(2) the County Court of Harrison County;
(3) the criminal district courts of Tarrant County;
(4) the district courts in Taylor County;
(5) the courts described in Section 53.002(c), (d),
(e), or (f);
(6) the county courts at law of Taylor County;
(7) the district courts in Tarrant County that give
preference to criminal cases; and
(8) the 115th District Court in Upshur County.
SECTION 5. Section 53.008, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 53.008. OATH. The bailiffs of the [22nd,] 34th, 70th,
86th, 97th, 130th, 142nd, 161st, 238th, 318th, 341st, 355th, and
385th district courts, the bailiffs of the courts described in
Section 53.002(c), (d), (e), or (f), the bailiffs and the grand jury
bailiffs of the district courts in Tarrant County that give
preference to criminal cases, the bailiffs and grand jury bailiffs
of the criminal district courts in Tarrant County, the bailiffs of
the district courts in Taylor County, and the bailiffs of the county
courts at law of Taylor County shall each swear to the following
oath, to be administered by the judge: "I solemnly swear that I
will faithfully and impartially perform all duties as may be
required of me by law, so help me God."
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2310 was passed by the House on May 3,
2011, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 1, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2310 was passed by the Senate on May
25, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0
.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor