88S30101 AMF-F
 
  By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 21
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to associate judges for guardianship proceedings and
protective services proceedings in certain courts.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Section 54A.307, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
follows:
       (b)  The associate judge's salary shall be paid from:
             (1)  money available from this state or the federal
government;
             (2)  county money available for payment of officers'
salaries, subject to the approval of the commissioners courts of
the counties in which the associate judge serves; or
             (3)  a combination of money specified by Subdivisions
(1) and (2).
       (c)  Notwithstanding any other law, an associate judge whose
salary is paid from money specified by Subsection (b)(1) or (3) is a
state employee for all purposes, including accrual of leave time,
insurance benefits, retirement benefits, and travel regulations.
       SECTION 2.  Section 54A.310, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
       (c)  An associate judge may oversee and monitor guardianship
proceedings and protective services proceedings in each court the
associate judge is appointed to serve in accordance with an order
referring the proceedings to the associate judge under Section
54A.309. The associate judge's authority to oversee and monitor
proceedings under this subsection includes the authority to:
             (1)  review the guardianship of wards and address any
reporting deficiencies of guardians under Section 1163.101,
Estates Code, and other applicable provisions of Chapter 1163,
Estates Code, that are reported to the court; 
             (2)  obtain and review annual accounts guardians are
required to file under Sections 1163.001 and 1163.002, Estates
Code;
             (3)  address concerns about a ward's well-being; and
             (4)  take any other action the associate judge
considers necessary to:
                   (A)  ensure the efficient administration of
justice in guardianship proceedings and protective services
proceedings; and
                   (B)  curtail the risk of potential abuse, fraud,
or exploitation of wards under a guardianship.
       SECTION 3.  Section 54A.312, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
follows:
       (b)  The salaries of the personnel shall be paid from:
             (1)  money available from this state or the federal
government;
             (2)  county money available for payment of officers'
salaries, subject to the approval of the commissioners courts of
the counties in which the associate judge serves; or
             (3)  a combination of money specified by Subdivisions
(1) and (2).
       (c)  Notwithstanding any other law, personnel whose salary
is paid from money specified by Subsection (b)(1) or (3) are state
employees for all purposes, including accrual of leave time,
insurance benefits, retirement benefits, and travel regulations.
       SECTION 4.  Section 54A.314, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
       Sec. 54A.314.  FUNDING AND PERSONNEL.  (a)  The office of
court administration may:
             (1)  contract for available county, state, and federal
money from any available source; and
             (2)  for each associate judge, employ personnel,
including investigators, auditors, court coordinators, and other
judicial staff, necessary to implement and administer this
subchapter.
       (a-1)  A court coordinator employed under this section shall
primarily assist the associate judge with administrative duties,
including managing caseloads.
       (a-2)  A court investigator employed under this section
shall primarily assist the associate judge with oversight and
monitoring of guardianship pro

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 72.122 (Government Code 72)