84R2155 KSD-F
By: Lucio III H.B. No. 2411
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the appointment of an associate judge in a family law
proceeding involving a name change.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 201.001(a) and (c), Family Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) A judge of a court having jurisdiction of a suit under
this title, [or] Title 1, Chapter 45, or Title 4 may appoint a
full-time or part-time associate judge to perform the duties
authorized by this chapter if the commissioners court of a county in
which the court has jurisdiction authorizes the employment of an
associate judge.
(c) If more than one court in a county has jurisdiction of a
suit under this title, [or] Title 1, Chapter 45, or Title 4 the
commissioners court may authorize the appointment of an associate
judge for each court or may authorize one or more associate judges
to share service with two or more courts.
SECTION 2. Sections 201.005(a) and (d), Family Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) Except as provided by this section, a judge of a court
may refer to an associate judge any aspect of a suit over which the
court has jurisdiction under this title, [or] Title 1, Chapter 45,
or Title 4, including any matter ancillary to the suit.
(d) The requirements of Subsections (b) and (c) shall apply
whenever a judge has authority to refer the trial of a suit under
this title, Title 1, Chapter 45, or Title 4 to an associate judge,
master, or other assistant judge regardless of whether the
assistant judge is appointed under this subchapter.
SECTION 3. Section 201.018(a), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) If an associate judge appointed under this subchapter is
temporarily unable to perform the judge's official duties because
of absence or illness, injury, or other disability, a judge of a
court having jurisdiction of a suit under this title, [or] Title 1,
Chapter 45, or Title 4 may appoint a visiting associate judge to
perform the duties of the associate judge during the period of the
associate judge's absence or disability if the commissioners court
of a county in which the court has jurisdiction authorizes the
employment of a visiting associate judge.
SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a suit filed under Chapter 45, Family Code, on or after the
effective date of this Act. A suit filed under Chapter 45, Family
Code, before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law
in effect on the date the suit was filed, and that law is continued
in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.