88R22122 AMF-F By: Murr, Spiller H.B. No. 103 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 103: By: Schofield C.S.H.B. No. 103 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the appointment of a retired or former judge as a visiting judge in certain counties. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 26, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 26.020 to read as follows: Sec. 26.020. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "former constitutional county judge" means a person who: (1) served as a judge for at least 96 months in a constitutional county court; or (2) served as a judge for at least 48 months in a constitutional county court and who is a licensed attorney in this state. SECTION 2. Section 26.023(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) The county judge may appoint a retired judge, former constitutional county judge, or a constitutional county judge from another county as a visiting judge when the county judge is absent from the county or absent because of physical incapacity. SECTION 3. Section 26.024(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) The county judge may appoint a retired judge, former constitutional county judge, or a constitutional county judge from another county as a visiting judge to share the bench if the county judge finds that the dockets of the county court reflect a case load that the county judge considers to be in excess of that which can be disposed of properly in a manner consistent with the efficient administration of justice. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.