Sec. 121.004.  JURISDICTION AND AUTHORITY OF JUDGE OR MAGISTRATE IN REGIONAL SPECIALTY COURT PROGRAM.  (a)  A judge or magistrate appointed to preside over a regional specialty court program may hear any misdemeanor or felony case properly transferred to the program by an originating trial court participating in the program, regardless of whether the originating trial court and specialty court program are in the same county. The appointed judge or magistrate may exercise only the authority granted under this subtitle.
(b)  The judge or magistrate of a regional specialty court program may for a case properly transferred to the program:
(1)  enter orders, judgments, and decrees for the case;
(2)  sign orders of detention, order community service, or impose other reasonable and necessary sanctions;
(3)  send recommendations for dismissal and expunction to the originating trial court for a defendant who successfully completes the program; and
(4)  return the case and documentation required by this subtitle to the originating trial court for final disposition on a defendant's successful completion of or removal from the program.
(c)  A visiting judge assigned to preside over a regional specialty court program has the same authority as the judge or magistrate appointed to preside over the program.
Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 934 (H.B. 3774), Sec. 12.01, eff. September 1, 2021.