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.     * * * * *