By: Capriglione (Senate Sponsor - Burton) H.B. No. 1904          (In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 2017;   May 16, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on State   Affairs; May 19, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote:     Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 19, 2017, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to the powers and compensation of criminal law magistrates   in Tarrant County.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 54.653, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 54.653.  COMPENSATION. (a) A full-time magistrate is   entitled to the salary determined by the Commissioners Court of   Tarrant County.          (b)  The salary of a full-time magistrate may not exceed 90   percent of the sum of:                (1)  [be less than] the salary [authorized to be] paid   to a district judge by the state under Section 659.012; and                (2)  the maximum amount of county contributions and   supplements allowed by law to be paid to a district judge under   Section 659.012 [master for family law cases appointed under   Subchapter A].          (c)  The salary of a part-time magistrate is equal to the   per-hour salary of a full-time magistrate. The per-hour salary is   determined by dividing the annual salary by a 2,080 work-hour year.   The judges of the courts trying criminal cases in Tarrant County   shall approve the number of hours for which a part-time magistrate   is to be paid.          (d)  A [The] magistrate's salary is paid from the county fund   available for payment of officers' salaries.          SECTION 2.  Section 54.656(a), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  A judge may refer to a magistrate any criminal case or   matter relating to a criminal case for proceedings involving:                (1)  a negotiated plea of guilty or no contest and   sentencing before the court;                (2)  a bond forfeiture, remittitur, and related   proceedings;                (3)  a pretrial motion;                (4)  a [postconviction] writ of habeas corpus;                (5)  an examining trial;                (6)  an occupational driver's license;                (7)  a petition for an [agreed] order of expunction   under Chapter 55, Code of Criminal Procedure;                (8)  an asset forfeiture hearing as provided by Chapter   59, Code of Criminal Procedure;                (9)  a petition for an [agreed] order of nondisclosure   of criminal history record information or an order of nondisclosure   of criminal history record information that does not require a   petition provided by Subchapter E-1, Chapter 411;                (10)  a [hearing on a] motion to modify or revoke   community supervision or to proceed with an adjudication of guilt   [probation]; [and]                (11)  setting conditions, modifying, revoking, and   surrendering of bonds, including surety bonds;                (12)  specialty court proceedings;                (13)  a waiver of extradition; and                (14)  any other matter the judge considers necessary   and proper.          SECTION 3.  Section 54.658, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 54.658.  POWERS. (a)  Except as limited by an order of   referral, a magistrate to whom a case is referred may:                (1)  conduct hearings;                (2)  hear evidence;                (3)  compel production of relevant evidence;                (4)  rule on admissibility of evidence;                (5)  issue summons for the appearance of witnesses;                (6)  examine witnesses;                (7)  swear witnesses for hearings;                (8)  make findings of fact on evidence;                (9)  formulate conclusions of law;                (10)  rule on a pretrial motion;                (11)  recommend the rulings, orders, or judgment to be   made in a case;                (12)  regulate proceedings in a hearing;                (13)  accept a plea of guilty from a defendant charged   with misdemeanor, felony, or both misdemeanor and felony offenses;                (14)  select a jury;                (15)  accept a negotiated plea on a probation   revocation;                (16)  conduct a contested probation revocation   hearing;                (17)  sign a dismissal in a misdemeanor case; [and]                (18)  in any case referred under Section 54.656(a)(1),   accept a negotiated plea of guilty or no contest and:                      (A)  enter a finding of guilt and impose or   suspend the sentence; or                      (B)  defer adjudication of guilt; and                (19)  do any act and take any measure necessary and   proper for the efficient performance of the duties required by the   order of referral.          (b)  A magistrate may sign a motion to dismiss submitted by   an attorney representing the state on cases referred to the   magistrate, or on dockets called by the magistrate, and may   consider unadjudicated cases at sentencing under Section 12.45,   Penal Code.          (c)  A magistrate has all of the powers of a magistrate under   the laws of this state and may administer an oath for any purpose.          (d)  A magistrate does not have authority under Article   18.01(c), Code of Criminal Procedure, to issue a subsequent search   warrant under Article 18.02(10), Code of Criminal Procedure.          SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by Sections 2 and 3 of   this Act apply to a matter or case referred to a magistrate on or   after the effective date of this Act. A matter or case referred to a   magistrate before the effective date of this Act is governed by the   law in effect immediately before that date, and that law is   continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.     * * * * *