89R3054 TSS-F     By: Flores S.B. No. 248       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the referral of certain criminal proceedings in the   Texas-Mexico border region to an associate judge and reimbursement   requests for all or part of an associate judge's or interpreter's   salary.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 54A.004, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:          (d)  The commissioners court of a county located in the   Texas-Mexico border region, as defined by Section 2056.002, may   submit a request to the Texas Judicial Council for reimbursement of   all or part of the salary paid to an associate judge to whom judges   in the county give preference when referring cases under Section   54A.006(a-1) to be paid from money appropriated to the council for   border security purposes.  The council may adopt rules to implement   this subsection.          SECTION 2.  Section 54A.006, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:          (a-1)  A judge whose jurisdiction includes a county located   in the Texas-Mexico border region, as defined by Section 2056.002,   may refer to an associate judge who serves a county located in the   region any matter arising out of a criminal case involving alleged   conduct constituting a criminal trespass offense under Section   30.05, Penal Code, by a person not lawfully present in the United   States.           SECTION 3.  Subchapter A, Chapter 57, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 57.003 to read as follows:          Sec. 57.003.  COMPENSATION. The commissioners court of a   county located in the Texas-Mexico border region, as defined by   Section 2056.002, may submit a request to the Texas Judicial   Council for reimbursement of all or part of the salary paid to an   interpreter for services rendered in a case referred under Section   54A.006(a-1) to be paid from money appropriated to the council for   border security purposes. The council may adopt rules to implement   this section.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.