Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 20 amends the Government Code to create, reorganize, or change the operation of certain district courts in Bexar, Cameron, Culberson, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Hudspeth, Nueces, Smith, Tarrant, Terrell, Tom Green, Travis, Val Verde, and Webb counties.

            The act requires that initial vacancies in the offices of judges of certain judicial districts be filled by election and the offices exist for purposes of the primary and general elections in 1998. The act also provides that vacancies occurring after the initial vacancies are filled will be as provided by Section 28, Article V, Texas Constitution, which states that the governor is empowered to fill vacancies in the offices of judges of the supreme court, the court of criminal appeals, the court of civil appeals, and district courts.