(a) This section applies only to a county judge in a county:
- (1) with a population of more than 1.5 million; or
- (2) with a population of at least 350,000 and not more than 370,000 that is adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent to a county with a population of at least 3.3 million.
- (b) A county judge may file an order with the commissioners court of the county delegating to another county officer or an employee of the county the ability to sign orders or other official documents associated with the county judge's office. The delegating order shall clearly indicate the types of orders or official documents that the officer or employee may sign on behalf of the county judge.
- (b-1) A county judge may file a standing order of emergency delegation of authority that clearly indicates the types of orders or official documents that the officer or employee may sign on behalf of the county judge in the event of an emergency or disaster.
- (c) An order or official document signed by a county officer or county employee acting under the delegated authority of the county judge in accordance with this section has the same effect as an order of the county judge.
- (d) The county judge may at any time revoke the delegated authority or transfer it to a different county officer or county employee by filing an order with the commissioners court of the county.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 143, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1995. Renumbered from Sec. 81.029 by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 13.03(d), eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1094 (H.B. 2120), Sec. 13, eff. September 1, 2005.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1163 (H.B. 2702), Sec. 66, eff. September 1, 2011.
Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 583 (H.B. 2273), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.
Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 583 (H.B. 2273), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2025.