Sec. 54.976.  PROCEEDINGS THAT MAY BE REFERRED.  (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;
(2)  a pretrial motion;
(3)  an examining trial;
(4)  a writ of habeas corpus;
(5)  a bond forfeiture suit;
(6)  issuance of search warrants;
(7)  setting, setting conditions, modifying, revoking, and surrendering of bonds, including surety bonds;
(8)  arraignment of defendants;
(9)  a motion to increase or decrease a bond;
(10)  a motion to revoke community supervision or to proceed to an adjudication;
(11)  an issue of competency or a civil commitment under Chapter 46, 46B, or 46C, Code of Criminal Procedure, with or without a jury;
(12)  a motion to modify community supervision;
(13)  specialty court proceedings, including drug court proceedings, veterans treatment court proceedings, and driving while intoxicated court proceedings;
(14)  an expunction or a petition for nondisclosure;
(15)  an occupational driver's license;
(16)  a waiver of extradition;
(17)  the issuance of subpoenas and orders requiring the production of medical records, including records relating to mental health or substance abuse treatment; and
(18)  any other matter the judge considers necessary and proper.
(b)  A magistrate may select a jury.  A magistrate may not preside over a contested criminal trial on the merits, regardless of whether the trial is before a jury.
(c)  A judge may refer to a magistrate any proceeding involving an application for a protective order under Title 4, Family Code, or Section 17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(d)  A judge may refer to a magistrate proceedings involving a grand jury, including issuance of grand jury subpoenas, receipt of grand jury reports on behalf of a district judge, the granting of a grand jury request to recess, motions to compel testimony, and discharge of a grand jury at the end of a term.  A magistrate may not impanel a grand jury.
Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 849, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 26, 1991.  Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 413, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1993;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 979, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by: 
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 864 (H.B. 3856), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1205 (S.B. 1474), Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2015.