Title GV, Government Code

Sec. 54.102. JURISDICTION. A master appointed under this subchapter has concurrent jurisdiction with the judges of the justice of the peace courts of Bell County over cases involving truant conduct in accordance with Section 65.004, Family Code. Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S…

Sec. 54.103. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The Commissioners Court of Bell County shall establish the powers and duties of a master appointed under this subchapter. (b) An order of referral may limit the use or power of a master. (c) Unless limited by published local rule, by written or…

Sec. 54.104. JUDICIAL IMMUNITY. A master has the same judicial immunity as a district judge. Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 355 (H.B. 452), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019. Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 606 (S.B. 891), Sec. 5.03, eff. September 1, 2019.

Sec. 54.105. TRAINING. A master appointed under this subchapter must successfully complete all training a justice of the peace is required to complete under state law. Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 355 (H.B. 452), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019. Added by Acts 2019, 86t…

Sec. 54.106. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH SUMMONS OR ORDER. If an attorney, party, witness, or any other person fails to comply with a summons or order, the master may certify that failure in writing to the referring court for appropriate action. Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch…

Sec. 54.107. WITNESSES. (a) A witness appearing before a master is subject to the penalties of perjury as provided by Chapter 37, Penal Code. (b) A witness referred to the court under Section 54.106 is subject to the same penalties and orders that may be imposed on a witness appe…

Sec. 54.1171. APPLICATION OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter applies to a constitutional county court in a county with a population of 2.1 million or more. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 137, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Renumbered from Government Code, Section 54.1151 by Acts 200…

Sec. 54.1172. APPOINTMENT. (a) The county judge may appoint one or more part-time or full-time magistrates to hear a matter alleging a violation of Section 25.093, Education Code, or alleging truant conduct under Section 65.003(a), Family Code. (b) An appointment under Subsection…

Sec. 54.1173. QUALIFICATIONS. A magistrate must be at least 25 years of age. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 137, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Renumbered from Government Code, Section 54.1153 by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 728 (H.B. 2018), Sec. 23.001(27), eff. September 1, 2005.…

Sec. 54.1174. COMPENSATION. A magistrate is entitled to the compensation set by the commissioners court. The compensation shall be paid from the general fund of the county. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 137, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Renumbered from Government Code, Sectio…

Sec. 54.1175. POWERS. Except as limited by an order of the county judge, a magistrate appointed under this subchapter may: (1) conduct hearings and trials, including jury trials; (2) hear evidence; (3) compel production of relevant evidence, including books, papers, vouchers, doc…

Sec. 54.1176. PAPERS TRANSMITTED TO JUDGE. (a) At the conclusion of a hearing, the magistrate shall transmit to the judge any papers relating to the case, including: (1) the magistrate's findings and recommendations; and (2) a statement that notice of the findings and recommendat…

Sec. 54.1177. JUDICIAL IMMUNITY. A magistrate appointed under this subchapter has the same judicial immunity as a district judge. Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 187 (S.B. 1242), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011. SUBCHAPTER Y. MAGISTRATES IN COMAL COUNTY

Sec. 54.1231. AUTHORIZATION; APPOINTMENT; ELIMINATION. (a) The Commissioners Court of Comal County may authorize the judges of the district and statutory county courts in Comal County to appoint one or more part-time or full-time magistrates to perform the duties authorized by th…

Sec. 54.1232. QUALIFICATIONS; OATH OF OFFICE. (a) To be eligible for appointment as a magistrate, a person must: (1) be a citizen of the United States; (2) have resided in Comal County for at least the two years preceding the person's appointment; and (3) be at least 30 years of …

Sec. 54.1233. COMPENSATION. (a) A magistrate is entitled to the salary determined by the Commissioners Court of Comal County. (b) A full-time magistrate's salary may not be less than that of a justice of the peace of Comal County as established by the annual budget of Comal Count…

Sec. 54.1234. JUDICIAL IMMUNITY. A magistrate has the same judicial immunity as a district judge. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 42, Sec. 1, eff. May 15, 2003. Renumbered from Government Code, Section 54.1154 by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 728 (H.B. 2018), Sec. 23.001(28), eff.…

Sec. 54.1235. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. (a) A magistrate may be terminated by a majority vote of all the judges of the district and statutory county courts of Comal County. (b) To terminate a magistrate's employment, the local administrative judge of the district courts serving …

Sec. 54.1236. JURISDICTION; RESPONSIBILITY; POWERS. (a) The judges of the district or statutory county courts shall establish standing orders to be followed by a magistrate or parties appearing before a magistrate, as applicable. (b) To the extent authorized by this subchapter an…

Sec. 54.1237. PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT, AND OFFICE SPACE. The Commissioners Court of Comal County shall provide: (1) personnel for the legal or clerical functions necessary to perform the magistrate's duties authorized by this chapter; and (2) sufficient equipment and office space fo…

Sec. 54.1351. APPLICATION OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter applies to Cameron County. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 767 (H.B. 3485), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.

Sec. 54.1352. APPOINTMENT. (a) A majority of the members of a board composed of the judges of the district courts and statutory county courts of Cameron County may appoint not more than two criminal law hearing officers to perform the duties authorized by this subchapter. (b) A c…

Sec. 54.1353. QUALIFICATIONS. To be eligible for appointment as a criminal law hearing officer under this subchapter, a person must: (1) be eligible to vote in this state and in Cameron County; (2) be at least 30 years of age; and (3) have the other qualifications required by the…

Sec. 54.1354. COMPENSATION. (a) A criminal law hearing officer is entitled to a salary in the amount set by the commissioners court. (b) The salary is paid from the county fund available for payment of officers' salaries. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 767 (H.B. 3485), Sec. 1…

Sec. 54.1355. OATH. A criminal law hearing officer must take the constitutional oath of office required of appointed officers of this state. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 767 (H.B. 3485), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.

Sec. 54.1356. CRIMINAL JURISDICTION. (a) A criminal law hearing officer appointed under this subchapter has limited concurrent jurisdiction over criminal cases filed in the district courts, statutory county courts, and justice courts of the county. The jurisdiction of the crimina…

Sec. 54.1357. MENTAL HEALTH JURISDICTION. The judges of the statutory county courts of Cameron County may authorize a criminal law hearing officer to serve the probate courts of Cameron County as necessary to hear emergency mental health matters under Chapter 573, Health and Safe…

Sec. 54.1358. DUTIES AND POWERS. (a) A criminal law hearing officer shall inform a person arrested of the warnings described by Article 15.17, Code of Criminal Procedure. (b) A criminal law hearing officer may determine the amount of bail and grant bail under Chapter 17, Code of …

Sec. 54.1359. JUDICIAL IMMUNITY. A criminal law hearing officer has the same judicial immunity as a district judge, statutory county court judge, and justice of the peace. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 767 (H.B. 3485), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.

Sec. 54.1360. SHERIFF. On request of a criminal law hearing officer appointed under this subchapter, the sheriff, in person or by deputy, shall assist the criminal law hearing officer. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 767 (H.B. 3485), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.

Sec. 54.1361. CLERK. The district clerk shall perform the statutory duties necessary for the criminal law hearing officers appointed under this subchapter in cases filed in a district court or a statutory county court. A person designated to serve as a clerk of a justice court sh…

Sec. 54.1362. PROCEEDINGS THAT MAY BE REFERRED. A district judge or a county court at law judge may refer to a criminal law hearing officer any criminal case for proceedings involving: (1) a bond forfeiture; (2) the arraignment of defendants; (3) the determination of whether a de…

Sec. 54.1501. APPOINTMENT. (a) The Commissioners Court of Burnet County may select magistrates to serve the courts of Burnet County having jurisdiction in criminal matters. (b) The commissioners court shall establish the minimum qualifications, salary, benefits, and other compens…

Sec. 54.1502. JURISDICTION. A magistrate has concurrent criminal jurisdiction with: (1) the judges of the justice of the peace courts of Burnet County; and (2) a municipal court in Burnet County, if approved by a memorandum of understanding between the municipality and Burnet Cou…

Sec. 54.1503. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The Commissioners Court of Burnet County shall establish the powers and duties of a magistrate appointed under this subchapter. Except as otherwise provided by the commissioners court, a magistrate has the powers of a magistrate under the Code…

Sec. 54.1504. JUDICIAL IMMUNITY. A magistrate has the same judicial immunity as a district judge. Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 863 (H.B. 3844), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011. Redesignated from Government Code, Section 54.1954 by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 161 (S.B. …

Sec. 54.1505. WITNESSES. (a) A witness who is sworn and who appears before a magistrate is subject to the penalties for perjury and aggravated perjury provided by law. (b) A referring court may fine or imprison a witness or other court participant for failure to appear after bein…

Sec. 54.1601. APPOINTMENT. (a) The Commissioners Court of Bell County may select magistrates to serve the courts of Bell County having jurisdiction in criminal matters. (b) The commissioners court shall establish the minimum qualifications, salary, benefits, and other compensatio…

Sec. 54.1602. JURISDICTION. A magistrate has concurrent criminal jurisdiction with the judges of the justice of the peace courts of Bell County. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 967 (S.B. 251), Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2025.

Sec. 54.1603. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The Commissioners Court of Bell County shall establish the powers and duties of a magistrate appointed under this subchapter. Except as otherwise provided by the commissioners court, a magistrate has the powers of a magistrate under the Code o…

Sec. 54.1604. JUDICIAL IMMUNITY. A magistrate has the same judicial immunity as a district judge. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 967 (S.B. 251), Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2025.

Sec. 54.1605. WITNESSES. (a) A witness who is sworn and who appears before a magistrate is subject to the penalties for perjury and aggravated perjury provided by law. (b) A referring court may fine or imprison a witness or other court participant for failure to appear after bein…

Sec. 54.1801. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "drug court" or "drug court program" has the meaning assigned by Section 123.001. Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 625 (H.B. 530), Sec. 9, eff. June 15, 2007. Amended by: Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 747 (S.B. 462), Sec. 2.…

Sec. 54.1802. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter applies to each district court and statutory county court with criminal jurisdiction in this state. If a provision of this subchapter conflicts with a specific provision for a particular district court or statutory county…

Sec. 54.1803. APPOINTMENT. (a) The judges of the district courts of a county hearing criminal cases and the judges of the statutory county courts with criminal jurisdiction in a county, with the consent and approval of the commissioners court of the county, may appoint the number…

Sec. 54.1805. COMPENSATION. A magistrate is entitled to the salary determined by the county commissioners court. Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 625 (H.B. 530), Sec. 9, eff. June 15, 2007.