TO:	Honorable Chris Harris, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
FROM:	John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2132 by Reynolds (Relating to the creation of magistrates in certain counties.), As Engrossed

The bill would amend the Government Code relating to the creation of magistrates in certain counties.  The bill would allow the county judge of an affected county to appoint one or more part-time or full-time magistrates to hear school attendance violations.  The magistrate’s compensation would be set by the commissioners court and be paid from the county’s general fund.  The bill would only apply to counties with a population of more than 585,000 and which are contiguous to a county with a population of at least four million.  To the extent the bill would amend court procedures relating to school attendance violations, no significant fiscal implication to the state is anticipated. The bill would take immediate effect if the bill receives two-thirds the vote of all members in both houses.  Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2011.

Local Government Impact

Because the bill would not have statewide impact on units of local government of the same type or class, no comment from this office is required by the rules of the House/Senate as to its probable fiscal implication on units of local government.