Texas Senate Bill SB910

Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

• Out of Senate Committee: 4/6/11
• Introduced: 2/24/11
• Voted on by Senate: 4/14/11
• Refer: 3/8/11
• Out of House Committee: 5/11/11
• Report Pass: 4/6/11
• Voted on by House: 5/20/11
• Governor Action: 6/17/11
• Refer: 4/26/11
• Enrolled: 5/21/11
• Passed: 6/17/11

Caption

Relating to certain state attorneys called into active duty military service.

Impact

The passage of SB910 would directly impact how absenteeism due to military service is handled for state attorneys in Texas. By ensuring that these attorneys can delegate their responsibilities without facing penalties, the legislation protects their positions and maintains the continuity of legal services within their districts. It also aims to alleviate the concerns of attorneys who may feel the burden of their absence could negatively impact their career or financial situation.

Summary

SB910 seeks to amend current regulations concerning state attorneys who are called into active duty military service. This bill clarifies that a state attorney, defined as a district attorney, criminal district attorney, or county attorney, is not considered to have vacated their office when they are mobilized or deployed for military duty. This legislation specifically allows for these attorneys to delegate their responsibilities to other qualified attorneys within their jurisdiction to ensure that the legal obligations of their office continue to be managed effectively during their absence.

Contention

While the bill appears to be a positive step for state attorneys serving in the military, there could be points of contention regarding the adequacy of the delegation provisions. Critics may raise concerns about whether the delegated attorneys will be adequately qualified to handle all the responsibilities assigned to them. Additionally, the bill's language suggests some oversight by the presiding judge of the court’s administrative region, which may invoke debate about how such oversight will be ensured and whether it could create bureaucratic hurdles for the attorney on duty.