88S30079 AMF-F
	By: Zaffirini	S.B. No. 20

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to bond requirements for certain judges.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Sections 25.0006(a-1) and (a-4), Government
	Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(a-1)  Before beginning the duties of the office, the judge
	of a statutory county court must execute a bond that:
	(1)  is payable to the treasurer of the county;
	(2)  is in the amount set by the commissioners court of:
	(A)  subject to Paragraph (B), not less than
	$1,000 nor more than $10,000; or
	(B)  for a judge presiding in the court over
	guardianship proceedings, as defined by Section 1002.015, Estates
	Code, or over probate proceedings, as defined by Section 22.029,
	Estates Code, not less than $500,000[:
	[(i)  $100,000 for a court in a county with a
	population of 125,000 or less; or
	[(ii)  $250,000 for a court in a county with
	a population of more than 125,000]; and
	(3)  is conditioned that the judge will:
	(A)  faithfully perform all duties of office; and
	(B)  for a judge presiding in the court over
	guardianship or probate proceedings, perform the duties required by
	the Estates Code.
	(a-4)  This section does not apply to:
	(1)  [a judge of a statutory county court who does not
	preside over guardianship proceedings, as defined by Section
	1002.015, Estates Code;
	[(2)]  a judge of a statutory probate court who
	executes a bond, obtains insurance, or self-insures pursuant to
	Section 25.00231; or
	(2) [(3)]  a judge who presides over a county criminal
	court.
	SECTION 2.  Section 26.001(a), Government Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(a)  Before beginning the duties of the office, the county
	judge must execute a bond that:
	(1)  is payable to the treasurer of the county;
	(2)  is in the amount set by the commissioners court of:
	(A)  subject to Paragraph (B), not less than
	$1,000 nor more than $10,000; or
	(B)  for a county judge presiding in the county
	court over guardianship proceedings, as defined by Section
	1002.015, Estates Code, or over probate proceedings, as defined by
	Section 22.029, Estates Code, not less than $500,000[:
	[(i)  $100,000 for a court in a county with a
	population of 125,000 or less; or
	[(ii)  $250,000 for a court in a county with
	a population of more than 125,000]; and
	(3)  is conditioned that the judge will:
	(A)  faithfully perform all duties of office; and
	(B)  for a county judge presiding in the county
	court over guardianship or probate proceedings, perform the duties
	required by the Estates Code.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
	last day of the legislative session.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 26.001 (Government Code 26)