court security committees get constables and a JP

The text as introduced · 583 words

89R7909 BCH-F

By: Hughes
S.B. No. 1221

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the composition and duties of a court security

committee.

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

SECTION 1. Section 74.092(a), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) A local administrative judge, for the courts for which

the judge serves as local administrative judge, shall:

(1) implement and execute the local rules of

administration, including the assignment, docketing, transfer, and

hearing of cases;

(2) appoint any special or standing committees

necessary or desirable for court management and administration;

(3) promulgate local rules of administration if the

other judges do not act by a majority vote;

(4) recommend to the regional presiding judge any

needs for assignment from outside the county to dispose of court

caseloads;

(5) supervise the expeditious movement of court

caseloads, subject to local, regional, and state rules of

administration;

(6) provide the supreme court and the office of court

administration requested statistical and management information;

(7) set the hours and places for holding court in the

county;

(8) supervise the employment and performance of

nonjudicial personnel;

(9) supervise the budget and fiscal matters of the

local courts, subject to local rules of administration;

(10) coordinate and cooperate with any other local

administrative judge in the district in the assignment of cases in

the courts' concurrent jurisdiction for the efficient operation of

the court system and the effective administration of justice;

(11) if requested by the courts the judge serves,

establish and maintain the lists required by Section 37.003 and

ensure appointments are made from the lists in accordance with

Section 37.004;

(12) perform other duties as may be directed by the

chief justice or a regional presiding judge; and

(13) establish a court security committee to adopt

security policies and procedures for the courts served by the local

administrative district judge that is composed of:

(A) the local administrative district judge, or

the judge's designee, who serves as presiding officer of the

committee;

(B) a representative of the sheriff's office;

(C) a representative of each constable's office

in the county;

(D) a representative of the county commissioners

court;

(E) [ (D) ] one judge of each type of court in the

county other than a municipal court or a municipal court of record;

(F) a justice of the peace who serves the county;

(G) [ (E) ] a representative of any county

attorney's office, district attorney's office, or criminal district

attorney's office that serves in the applicable courts; and

(H) [ (F) ] any other person the committee

determines necessary to assist the committee.

SECTION 2. Section 74.092(b), Government Code, is

redesignated as Section 74.0922, Government Code, and amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 74.0922. DUTIES OF COURT SECURITY COMMITTEE. [ (b) ] A

court security committee established under Section 74.092(a)(13)

shall meet at least once annually to develop and submit

recommendations [ may recommend ] to the county commissioners court

on the uses of resources and expenditures of money for courthouse

security, including recommendations on the allocation of any county

court security budget, but may not direct the assignment of those

resources or the expenditure of those funds.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.