BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2675

By: Jetton

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Justice court judges and justice court clerks have expressed concern about their inability to deposit funds awarded to minors in the court registry, an ability only afforded to county and district court clerks. This is particularly important given the recent increase in justice courts' jurisdictional limit from $10,000 to $20,000, which has led to many more auto accident cases, often involving minors, being assigned to justice courts. Justice courts need to be able to place funds rightfully belonging to minor children in the court registry. H.B. 2675 seeks to address this issue by authorizing justice courts to deposit funds set apart for minors into the court registry until they can be legally disbursed. This will enable them to operate as efficiently as county and district courts regarding money awarded to minors.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2675 amends the Local Government Code to provide for the deposit of funds into court registries by justice court clerks by including those clerks among the court clerks to whom statutory provisions governing depositories for certain trust funds and court registry funds apply.

H.B. 2675 amends the Government Code to exempt registry funds deposited with the clerk of a justice court from provisions of the Public Funds Investment Act regarding authorized investments for governmental entities.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.