By: Metcalf, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Creighton)	H.B. No. 431
	(In the Senate - Received from the House May 9, 2017;
	May 9, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on State
	Affairs; May 15, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote:
	Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 15, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to a temporary justice of the peace.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 27.055(b), Government Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(b)  If a justice is temporarily unable to perform official
	duties because of absence, recusal, illness, injury, or other
	disability, the county judge, on the judge's own motion or at the
	request of the justice of the peace, may appoint a qualified person
	to serve as temporary justice for the duration of the absence of the
	justice of the peace from the bench [disability].  The
	commissioners court shall compensate the temporary justice by the
	day, week, or month in an amount equal to the compensation of the
	regular justice. A temporary justice has all the rights and powers
	of the justice of the peace while serving in that capacity but may
	not make personnel decisions about, or significant changes in, the
	justice of the peace's office.
	SECTION 2.  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, 2017.
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