Bill Text: TX HR256 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Recognizing February 12, 2019, as Justices of the Peace and Constables Day at the State Capitol.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-02-21 - Reported enrolled [HR256 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HR256-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Recognizing February 12, 2019, as Justices of the Peace and Constables Day at the State Capitol.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-02-21 - Reported enrolled [HR256 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HR256-Introduced.html
86R6623 KSM-D | ||
By: Coleman | H.R. No. 256 |
|
||
WHEREAS, Proud members of the Justices of the Peace and | ||
Constables Association of Texas are gathering in Austin on February | ||
12, 2019, for Justices of the Peace and Constables Day at the State | ||
Capitol; and | ||
WHEREAS, The office of justice of the peace, first | ||
established in 1362 by King Edward of England, and the office of | ||
constable, first established in 1215 by King John of England, were | ||
two of the first offices established in the American colonies in | ||
1620; both offices were created by the Texas Constitution | ||
approximately two centuries later and continue to serve a vital | ||
role in the system of county government; and | ||
WHEREAS, Justices of the peace are an integral part of the | ||
Texas judiciary; they exercise jurisdiction in criminal | ||
misdemeanor cases punishable by fine or sanctions and exercise | ||
civil jurisdiction in matters in controversy up to $10,000; | ||
justices of the peace preside over those courts closest to the | ||
people, first established as "grass roots" courts in 1836 when | ||
Texas became a republic; and | ||
WHEREAS, Constables serve as officers of the court as | ||
bailiffs, execute civil and criminal process issued by Texas | ||
courts, and enforce criminal laws as certified peace officers; the | ||
first known constable to serve in Texas was appointed in 1823, when | ||
the region was still under Mexican rule; and | ||
WHEREAS, The men and women who accept the responsibilities of | ||
the offices of justice of the peace and constable perform their | ||
official duties with integrity, dedication, and the required | ||
knowledge of the law, thereby contributing immeasurably to the | ||
justice system, the safety of the citizens of Texas, and the peace | ||
and order of our society; and | ||
WHEREAS, For more than 75 years, the Justices of the Peace and | ||
Constables Association of Texas has represented the interests of | ||
justices of the peace, constables, and members of their staffs | ||
across the Lone Star State, and today the organization boasts a | ||
membership of over 2,000; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby recognize February 12, 2019, as Justices of the | ||
Peace and Constables Day at the State Capitol; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
prepared for the association as an expression of high regard by the | ||
Texas House of Representatives. |