bill sending border trespass cases to an associate judge

The text as introduced · 330 words

89R3054 TSS-F

By: Guillen
H.B. No. 1328

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the referral of certain criminal proceedings in the

Texas-Mexico border region to an associate judge and reimbursement

requests for all or part of an associate judge's or interpreter's

salary.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 54A.004, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d) The commissioners court of a county located in the

Texas-Mexico border region, as defined by Section 2056.002, may

submit a request to the Texas Judicial Council for reimbursement of

all or part of the salary paid to an associate judge to whom judges

in the county give preference when referring cases under Section

54A.006(a-1) to be paid from money appropriated to the council for

border security purposes. The council may adopt rules to implement

this subsection.

SECTION 2. Section 54A.006, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a-1) A judge whose jurisdiction includes a county located

in the Texas-Mexico border region, as defined by Section 2056.002,

may refer to an associate judge who serves a county located in the

region any matter arising out of a criminal case involving alleged

conduct constituting a criminal trespass offense under Section

30.05, Penal Code, by a person not lawfully present in the United

States.

SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 57, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 57.003 to read as follows:

Sec. 57.003. COMPENSATION. The commissioners court of a

county located in the Texas-Mexico border region, as defined by

Section 2056.002, may submit a request to the Texas Judicial

Council for reimbursement of all or part of the salary paid to an

interpreter for services rendered in a case referred under Section

54A.006(a-1) to be paid from money appropriated to the council for

border security purposes. The council may adopt rules to implement

this section.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.