BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2935 By: Castro (Zaffirini) Jurisprudence 5/4/2011 Engrossed BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2935 By: Castro (Zaffirini) Jurisprudence 5/4/2011 Engrossed Senate Research Center H.B. 2935 By: Castro (Zaffirini) Jurisprudence 5/4/2011 Engrossed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Current law that provides for the appointment of official court reporters does not expressly provide for the appointment of an official court reporter by a criminal law magistrate in Bexar County. H.B. 2935 seeks to respond to this issue by authorizing a full-time Bexar County criminal law magistrate, with the consent of the Bexar County Commissioners Court, to appoint an official court reporter to serve that magistrate. H.B. 2935 amends current law relating to the appointment of a court reporter by a criminal law magistrate in Bexar County. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 52, Government Code, by adding Section 52.0441, as follows: Sec. 52.0441. COURT REPORTERS FOR CRIMINAL LAW MAGISTRATES IN BEXAR COUNTY. Authorizes each full-time Bexar County criminal law magistrate, with the consent and approval of the Commissioners Court of Bexar County, to appoint an official court reporter to serve that magistrate. Provides that the reporter is a sworn officer of the court who holds office at the pleasure of the magistrate. SECTION 2. Effective date: October 1, 2011. AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Current law that provides for the appointment of official court reporters does not expressly provide for the appointment of an official court reporter by a criminal law magistrate in Bexar County. H.B. 2935 seeks to respond to this issue by authorizing a full-time Bexar County criminal law magistrate, with the consent of the Bexar County Commissioners Court, to appoint an official court reporter to serve that magistrate. H.B. 2935 amends current law relating to the appointment of a court reporter by a criminal law magistrate in Bexar County. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 52, Government Code, by adding Section 52.0441, as follows: Sec. 52.0441. COURT REPORTERS FOR CRIMINAL LAW MAGISTRATES IN BEXAR COUNTY. Authorizes each full-time Bexar County criminal law magistrate, with the consent and approval of the Commissioners Court of Bexar County, to appoint an official court reporter to serve that magistrate. Provides that the reporter is a sworn officer of the court who holds office at the pleasure of the magistrate. SECTION 2. Effective date: October 1, 2011.