S.B. No. 1242 AN ACT relating to the judicial immunity and powers of certain magistrates. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subsection (b), Section 54.1176, Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) The judge shall adopt, modify, or reject the magistrate's recommendations not later than the third working day after the date the judge receives the recommendations. If the judge does not take action in the time provided by this subsection, the recommendations of the magistrate are adopted by the judge. SECTION 2. Subchapter W, Chapter 54, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 54.1177 to read as follows: Sec. 54.1177. JUDICIAL IMMUNITY. A magistrate appointed under this subchapter has the same judicial immunity as a district judge. SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act to Subsection (b), Section 54.1176, Government Code, apply to a cause of action referred to a magistrate on or after the effective date of this Act. A cause of action referred to a magistrate before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before that date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1242 passed the Senate on April 7, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1242 passed the House on May 13, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, one present not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Approved: ______________________________ Date ______________________________ Governor