88S30101 AMF-F     By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 21       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to associate judges for guardianship proceedings and   protective services proceedings in certain courts.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 54A.307, Government Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as   follows:          (b)  The associate judge's salary shall be paid from:                (1)  money available from this state or the federal   government;                (2)  county money available for payment of officers'   salaries, subject to the approval of the commissioners courts of   the counties in which the associate judge serves; or                (3)  a combination of money specified by Subdivisions   (1) and (2).          (c)  Notwithstanding any other law, an associate judge whose   salary is paid from money specified by Subsection (b)(1) or (3) is a   state employee for all purposes, including accrual of leave time,   insurance benefits, retirement benefits, and travel regulations.          SECTION 2.  Section 54A.310, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:          (c)  An associate judge may oversee and monitor guardianship   proceedings and protective services proceedings in each court the   associate judge is appointed to serve in accordance with an order   referring the proceedings to the associate judge under Section   54A.309. The associate judge's authority to oversee and monitor   proceedings under this subsection includes the authority to:                (1)  review the guardianship of wards and address any   reporting deficiencies of guardians under Section 1163.101,   Estates Code, and other applicable provisions of Chapter 1163,   Estates Code, that are reported to the court;                 (2)  obtain and review annual accounts guardians are   required to file under Sections 1163.001 and 1163.002, Estates   Code;                (3)  address concerns about a ward's well-being; and                (4)  take any other action the associate judge   considers necessary to:                      (A)  ensure the efficient administration of   justice in guardianship proceedings and protective services   proceedings; and                      (B)  curtail the risk of potential abuse, fraud,   or exploitation of wards under a guardianship.          SECTION 3.  Section 54A.312, Government Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as   follows:          (b)  The salaries of the personnel shall be paid from:                (1)  money available from this state or the federal   government;                (2)  county money available for payment of officers'   salaries, subject to the approval of the commissioners courts of   the counties in which the associate judge serves; or                (3)  a combination of money specified by Subdivisions   (1) and (2).          (c)  Notwithstanding any other law, personnel whose salary   is paid from money specified by Subsection (b)(1) or (3) are state   employees for all purposes, including accrual of leave time,   insurance benefits, retirement benefits, and travel regulations.          SECTION 4.  Section 54A.314, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 54A.314.  FUNDING AND PERSONNEL.  (a)  The office of   court administration may:                (1)  contract for available county, state, and federal   money from any available source; and                (2)  for each associate judge, employ personnel,   including investigators, auditors, court coordinators, and other   judicial staff, necessary to implement and administer this   subchapter.          (a-1)  A court coordinator employed under this section shall   primarily assist the associate judge with administrative duties,   including managing caseloads.          (a-2)  A court investigator employed under this section   shall primarily assist the associate judge with oversight and   monitoring of guardianship proceedings under Section 54A.310(c),   including by:                (1)  visiting wards and guardians to address any   well-being concerns made known to the court; and                (2)  reviewing annual reports and annual accounts   guardians are required to file under Chapter 1163, Estates Code.          (a-3)  Personnel employed under this section are state   employees for all purposes, including accrual of leave time,   insurance benefits, retirement benefits, and travel regulations.          (b)  The presiding judges of the administrative judicial   regions, state agencies, and counties may seek or contract for   federal money available from any source to reimburse the costs and   salaries of the associate judges and personnel appointed under this   subchapter and may also use state money and public or private   grants.          (c)  The presiding judges of the administrative judicial   regions and the office of court administration in cooperation with   other state agencies and counties shall take action necessary to   maximize the amount of federal money available to fund the use of   associate judges under this subchapter.          SECTION 5.  Section 72.122, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:          (d)  The office, on request, shall make available to   associate judges appointed under Subchapter D, Chapter 54A,   guardianship compliance specialists and other resources and   assistance under the program to assist those associate judges with   the oversight and monitoring of guardianship and protective   services proceedings in the courts the associate judges are   appointed to serve.          SECTION 6.  Sections 54A.307(c), 54A.312(c), and   54A.314(a-3), Government Code, as added by this Act, apply only to   an associate judge appointed or court personnel employed on or   after the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the   last day of the legislative session.