85R10677 DMS-D
By: Landgraf H.B. No. 3613
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the appointment of bailiffs by district courts in Ector
County.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 53.001, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (k) to read as follows:
(k) The judges of the 244th, 358th, and 446th district
courts shall each appoint a bailiff.
SECTION 2. Section 53.004, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (h) to read as
follows:
(a) A bailiff in the 34th or [, 70th,] 71st[, or 161st]
district court must be a resident of the county in which the bailiff
serves the court and must be at least 18 years old.
(h) A bailiff in the 70th, 161st, 244th, or 358th district
court must be:
(1) a resident of the county in which the bailiff
serves the court;
(2) at least 18 years of age; and
(3) a citizen of the United States.
SECTION 3. Section 53.007(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) This section applies to:
(1) the 34th, 70th, 71st, 86th, 97th, 130th, 142nd,
161st, 238th, 244th, 318th, 341st, 355th, 358th, [and] 385th, and
446th district courts;
(2) the County Court of Harrison County;
(3) the criminal district courts of Tarrant County;
(4) the district courts in Taylor County;
(5) the courts described in Section 53.002(c), (d),
(e), or (f);
(6) the county courts at law of Taylor County;
(7) the district courts in Tarrant County that give
preference to criminal cases; and
(8) the 115th District Court in Upshur County.
SECTION 4. Section 53.0071, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 53.0071. BAILIFF AS PEACE OFFICER. Unless the
appointing judge provides otherwise in the order of appointment, a
bailiff appointed under Section 53.001(b), [or] (g), or (k) or
53.002(c), (e), or (f) is a "peace officer" for purposes of Article
2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure.
SECTION 5. Section 53.008, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 53.008. OATH. The bailiffs of the 34th, 70th, 86th,
97th, 130th, 142nd, 161st, 238th, 244th, 318th, 341st, 355th,
358th, [and] 385th, and 446th district courts, the bailiffs of the
courts described in Section 53.002(c), (d), (e), or (f), the
bailiffs and the grand jury bailiffs of the district courts in
Tarrant County that give preference to criminal cases, the bailiffs
and grand jury bailiffs of the criminal district courts in Tarrant
County, the bailiffs of the district courts in Taylor County, and
the bailiffs of the county courts at law of Taylor County shall each
swear to the following oath, to be administered by the judge: "I
solemnly swear that I will faithfully and impartially perform all
duties as may be required of me by law, so help me God."
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.