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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the County Court at Law of Bowie County. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 25.0212, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a), (b), and (f) and adding Subsections (i) |
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and (j) to read as follows: |
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(a) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section |
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25.0003 and other law and except as limited by Subsection (b), a |
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county court at law in Bowie County has, concurrent with the |
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district court, the jurisdiction provided by the constitution and |
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by general law for district courts, including concurrent |
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jurisdiction in: |
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(1) specialty court programs; |
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(2) misdemeanor cases; |
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(3) family law cases and proceedings, including |
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juvenile matters; and |
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(4) probate and guardianship matters. |
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(b) A county court at law does not have jurisdiction of: |
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(1) felony criminal matters; |
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(2) suits on behalf of the state to recover penalties |
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or escheated property; |
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(3) misdemeanors involving official misconduct; |
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(4) contested elections; or |
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(5) civil cases in which the matter in controversy |
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exceeds the amount provided in Section 25.0003 [$200,000], |
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excluding interest, statutory or punitive damages and penalties, |
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and attorney's fees and costs, as alleged on the face of the |
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petition. |
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(f) The [commissioners court may authorize the judge of a |
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county court at law to set the] official court reporter of a county |
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court at law is entitled to compensation, fees, and allowances in |
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amounts equal to the amounts paid to the official court reporters |
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serving the district courts in Bowie County, including an annual |
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salary set by the judge of the county court at law and approved by |
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the commissioners court [reporter's salary]. |
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(i) The jury in all civil or criminal matters is composed of |
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12 members, except in misdemeanor criminal cases and any other case |
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in which the court has concurrent jurisdiction with county courts |
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under Section 25.0003(a), the jury is composed of six members. |
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(j) In matters of concurrent jurisdiction, a judge of a |
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county court at law and a judge of a district court with |
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jurisdiction in Bowie County may transfer cases between the courts |
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in the same manner that judges of district courts may transfer cases |
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under Section 24.003. |
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SECTION 2. Section 25.0212(d), Government Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |