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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of additional judicial districts composed |
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of Harris County; making an appropriation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The legislature finds that: |
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(1) in the last five years, Harris County has been |
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devastated by multiple disasters, including Hurricane Harvey and |
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the COVID-19 pandemic, that have resulted in the closure of |
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courthouses in the county and created a backlog of criminal cases |
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waiting to be heard; |
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(2) ongoing restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
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and construction at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center will |
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continue to restrict access to jury trials; |
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(3) an increase in defendants released on personal |
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bond or monetary bail while awaiting trial has lead to an increase |
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in the levels of crime in Harris County; and |
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(4) without additional courts, the Harris County |
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Criminal District Courts will take 15 years to clear the backlog of |
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criminal cases and return to the number of pending criminal cases |
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seen prior to Hurricane Harvey, further endangering the safety of |
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the Harris County community, law enforcement, and victims. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 24.60031, 24.60032, and 24.60033 to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 24.60031. 486TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HARRIS COUNTY). |
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(a) The 486th Judicial District is composed of Harris County. |
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(b) The 486th District Court shall give preference to |
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criminal cases. |
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(c) On February 1, 2024: |
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(1) this section expires; and |
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(2) the 486th Judicial District is abolished. |
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Sec. 24.60032. 487TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HARRIS COUNTY). |
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(a) The 487th Judicial District is composed of Harris County. |
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(b) The 487th District Court shall give preference to |
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criminal cases. |
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(c) On February 1, 2024: |
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(1) this section expires; and |
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(2) the 487th Judicial District is abolished. |
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Sec. 24.60033. 488TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HARRIS COUNTY). |
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(a) The 488th Judicial District is composed of Harris County. |
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(b) The 488th District Court shall give preference to |
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criminal cases. |
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(c) On February 1, 2024: |
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(1) this section expires; and |
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(2) the 488th Judicial District is abolished. |
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SECTION 3. The amount of $595,716 is appropriated from the |
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general revenue fund to the Comptroller of Public Accounts, |
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Judiciary Section for the state fiscal biennium beginning September |
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1, 2021, for the purpose of providing funding for the judicial |
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salaries and other necessary expenses for the 486th, 487th, and |
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488th Judicial Districts. |
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SECTION 4. The 486th, 487th, and 488th Judicial Districts |
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are created on the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect January 1, 2022, if this |
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Act receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each |
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house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. |
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If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for effect on that |
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date, this Act takes effect February 1, 2022. |