Jun
29
Written by:
Andy Hogue
6/29/2011 10:17 AM
Thanks in part to the extension of time brought by an impasse over SB 1 and the anti-TSA-groping bill, the House met this morning and passed the courts reform bill.
The House concurred with the Senate's changes to HB 79 by a vote of 94-44.
The Senate adjourned sine die yesterday (June 28).
Though many Representatives took to the back mic to state for the record "this is a House bill, not a Senate bill" the members were willing to accept the other chamber's tweaking over the alternative: the death of the bill.
The Senate stripped, among other House amendments, an anti-"Sharia Law" provision by Rep. Leo Berman (R-Tyler).
"Sen. Duncan took out three different times an amendment that bans Sharia Law in Texas," Berman said. Duncan was not immediately reached for comment.
The Senate version, however, retains an amendment by Rep. Rodney Anderson (R-Grand Prairie) regarding the duties of bailiffs.
"We did everything we could have done to get the amendments acceptable to the Senate. But it just didn't happen," said bill author Rep. Tryon Lewis (R-Odessa).
Berman said Lewis "represented us well" and that the Senate changes "should not be held against Lewis."
Lewis noted that if there are any potential flashpoints or conflicts with other laws, there is plenty of time to analyze certain parts of the bill. Many of the provisions do not go into effect until May 2013.