Enrolled Bill Summary

House Bill 1916 amends the Government Code to restore the original criminal jurisdiction of County Criminal Court No. 5 of Tarrant County and establish it as the only court with concurrent jurisdiction of all appeals from criminal convictions that are appealed from justice courts and municipal courts within the county. The act requires this redesignated court to give preference to cases involving domestic violence, violations of protective orders, and stalking and establishes concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in felony cases to conduct arraignments, pretrial hearings, and accept guilty pleas in felony cases.