By: Carriker S.B. No. 499
73R5342 RJA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to abolishing certain district courts, creating additional
1-3 district courts, and the election of district court judges in
1-4 certain counties.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 24, Government Code, is
1-7 amended by adding Section 24.0015 to read as follows:
1-8 Sec. 24.0015. RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT OF JUDGES. A district
1-9 judge elected by place from an area that is less than the entire
1-10 judicial district may, but need not, be a resident of the area from
1-11 which elected.
1-12 SECTION 2. Effective January 1, 1995, Subchapter C, Chapter
1-13 24, Government Code, is amended by adding Sections 24.523-24.530 to
1-14 read as follows:
1-15 Sec. 24.523. 378TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HARRIS COUNTY).
1-16 (a) The 378th Judicial District is composed of Harris County.
1-17 (b) The district has 35 judges who are elected from state
1-18 representative districts as provided by Subsection (c). For
1-19 purposes of this section, a state representative district is
1-20 composed of the area in the district on January 1, 1993.
1-21 (c) One judge shall be elected for each of the following
1-22 places:
1-23 ___________________________________________________________________
1-24 ___________________________________________________________________
2-1 ___________________________________________________________________
2-2 Sec. 24.524. 379TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (DALLAS COUNTY). (a)
2-3 The 379th Judicial District is composed of Dallas County.
2-4 (b) The district has 30 judges who are elected from state
2-5 representative districts as provided by Subsection (c). For
2-6 purposes of this section, a state representative district is
2-7 composed of the area in the district on January 1, 1993.
2-8 (c) One judge shall be elected for each of the following
2-9 places:
2-10 ___________________________________________________________________
2-11 ___________________________________________________________________
2-12 ___________________________________________________________________
2-13 Sec. 24.525. 380TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (TARRANT COUNTY). (a)
2-14 The 380th Judicial District is composed of Tarrant County.
2-15 (b) The district has 14 judges who are elected from state
2-16 representative districts as provided by Subsection (c). For
2-17 purposes of this section, a state representative district is
2-18 composed of the area in the district on January 1, 1993.
2-19 (c) One judge shall be elected for each of the following
2-20 places:
2-21 ___________________________________________________________________
2-22 ___________________________________________________________________
2-23 ___________________________________________________________________
2-24 Sec. 24.526. 381ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT (BEXAR COUNTY). (a)
2-25 The 381st Judicial District is composed of Bexar County.
2-26 (b) The district has 13 judges who are elected from state
2-27 representative districts as provided by Subsection (c). For
3-1 purposes of this section, a state representative district is
3-2 composed of the area in the district on January 1, 1993.
3-3 (c) One judge shall be elected for each of the following
3-4 places:
3-5 ___________________________________________________________________
3-6 ___________________________________________________________________
3-7 ___________________________________________________________________
3-8 Sec. 24.527. 382ND JUDICIAL DISTRICT (JEFFERSON COUNTY).
3-9 (a) The 382nd Judicial District is composed of Jefferson County.
3-10 (b) The district has six judges who are elected from state
3-11 representative districts and parts of state representative
3-12 districts as provided by Subsection (c). For purposes of this
3-13 section, a state representative district is composed of the area in
3-14 the district on January 1, 1993.
3-15 (c) One judge shall be elected for each of the following
3-16 places:
3-17 __________________________________________________________________
3-18 __________________________________________________________________
3-19 __________________________________________________________________
3-20 Sec. 24.528. 383RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT (LUBBOCK COUNTY). (a)
3-21 The 383rd Judicial District is composed of Lubbock County.
3-22 (b) The district has three judges who are elected from
3-23 commissioners court precincts as provided by Subsection (c). For
3-24 purposes of this section, a commissioners court precinct is
3-25 composed of the area in the precinct on January 1, 1993.
3-26 (c) One judge shall be elected for each of the following
3-27 places:
4-1 ___________________________________________________________________
4-2 ___________________________________________________________________
4-3 ___________________________________________________________________
4-4 Sec. 24.529. 384TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (ECTOR COUNTY). (a)
4-5 The 384th Judicial District is composed of Ector County.
4-6 (b) The district has two judges who are elected from
4-7 commissioners court precincts as provided by Subsection (c). For
4-8 purposes of this section, a commissioners court precinct is
4-9 composed of the area in the precinct on January 1, 1993.
4-10 (c) One judge shall be elected for each of the following
4-11 places:
4-12 ___________________________________________________________________
4-13 ___________________________________________________________________
4-14 ___________________________________________________________________
4-15 Sec. 24.530. 385TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (MIDLAND COUNTY). (a)
4-16 The 385th Judicial District is composed of Midland County.
4-17 (b) The district has two judges who are elected from
4-18 commissioners court precincts as provided by Subsection (c). For
4-19 purposes of this section, a commissioners court precinct is
4-20 composed of the area in the precinct on January 1, 1993.
4-21 (c) One judge shall be elected for each of the following
4-22 places:
4-23 ___________________________________________________________________
4-24 ___________________________________________________________________
4-25 ___________________________________________________________________
4-26 SECTION 3. Effective January 1, 1997, Sections 24.523(b) and
4-27 (c), Government Code, as added by Section 2 of this Act, are
5-1 amended to read as follows:
5-2 (b) The district has 59 <35> judges who are elected from
5-3 state representative districts as provided by Subsection (c). For
5-4 purposes of this section, a state representative district is
5-5 composed of the area in the district on January 1, 1993.
5-6 (c) One judge shall be elected for each of the following
5-7 places:
5-8 ___________________________________________________________________
5-9 ___________________________________________________________________
5-10 ___________________________________________________________________
5-11 SECTION 4. Effective January 1, 1997, Sections 24.524(b) and
5-12 (c), Government Code, as added by Section 2 of this Act, are
5-13 amended to read as follows:
5-14 (b) The district has 37 <30> judges who are elected from
5-15 state representative districts as provided by Subsection (c). For
5-16 purposes of this section, a state representative district is
5-17 composed of the area in the district on January 1, 1993.
5-18 (c) One judge shall be elected for each of the following
5-19 places:
5-20 ___________________________________________________________________
5-21 ___________________________________________________________________
5-22 ___________________________________________________________________
5-23 SECTION 5. Effective January 1, 1997, Sections 24.525(b) and
5-24 (c), Government Code, as added by Section 2 of this Act, are
5-25 amended to read as follows:
5-26 (b) The district has 25 <14> judges who are elected from
5-27 state representative districts as provided by Subsection (c). For
6-1 purposes of this section, a state representative district is
6-2 composed of the area in the district on January 1, 1993.
6-3 (c) One judge shall be elected for each of the following
6-4 places:
6-5 ___________________________________________________________________
6-6 ___________________________________________________________________
6-7 ___________________________________________________________________
6-8 SECTION 6. Effective January 1, 1997, Sections 24.526(b) and
6-9 (c), Government Code, as added by Section 2 of this Act, are
6-10 amended to read as follows:
6-11 (b) The district has 19 <13> judges who are elected from
6-12 state representative districts as provided by Subsection (c). For
6-13 purposes of this section, a state representative district is
6-14 composed of the area in the district on January 1, 1993.
6-15 (c) One judge shall be elected for each of the following
6-16 places:
6-17 ___________________________________________________________________
6-18 ___________________________________________________________________
6-19 ___________________________________________________________________
6-20 SECTION 7. Effective January 1, 1997, Sections 24.527(b) and
6-21 (c), Government Code, as added by Section 2 of this Act, are
6-22 amended to read as follows:
6-23 (b) The district has eight <six> judges who are elected from
6-24 state representative districts and parts of state representative
6-25 districts as provided by Subsection (c). For purposes of this
6-26 section, a state representative district is composed of the area in
6-27 the district on January 1, 1993.
7-1 (c) One judge shall be elected for each of the following
7-2 places:
7-3 ___________________________________________________________________
7-4 ___________________________________________________________________
7-5 ___________________________________________________________________
7-6 SECTION 8. Effective January 1, 1997, Sections 24.528(b) and
7-7 (c), Government Code, as added by Section 2 of this Act, are
7-8 amended to read as follows:
7-9 (b) The district has six <three> judges who are elected from
7-10 commissioners court precincts as provided by Subsection (c). For
7-11 purposes of this section, a commissioners court precinct is
7-12 composed of the area in the precinct on January 1, 1993.
7-13 (c) One judge shall be elected for each of the following
7-14 places:
7-15 ___________________________________________________________________
7-16 ___________________________________________________________________
7-17 ___________________________________________________________________
7-18 SECTION 9. Effective January 1, 1997, Sections 24.529(b) and
7-19 (c), Government Code, as added by Section 2 of this Act, are
7-20 amended to read as follows:
7-21 (b) The district has four <two> judges who are elected from
7-22 commissioners court precincts as provided by Subsection (c). For
7-23 purposes of this section, a commissioners court precinct is
7-24 composed of the area in the precinct on January 1, 1993.
7-25 (c) One judge shall be elected for each of the following
7-26 places:
7-27 ___________________________________________________________________
8-1 ___________________________________________________________________
8-2 ___________________________________________________________________
8-3 SECTION 10. Effective January 1, 1997, Sections 24.530(b)
8-4 and (c), Government Code, as added by Section 2 of this Act, are
8-5 amended to read as follows:
8-6 (b) The district has three <two> judges who are elected from
8-7 commissioners court precincts as provided by Subsection (c). For
8-8 purposes of this section, a commissioners court precinct is
8-9 composed of the area in the precinct on January 1, 1993.
8-10 (c) One judge shall be elected for each of the following
8-11 places:
8-12 ___________________________________________________________________
8-13 ___________________________________________________________________
8-14 ___________________________________________________________________
8-15 SECTION 11. (a) Effective January 1, 1995, the following
8-16 sections of the Government Code are repealed:
8-17 (1) 24.157, 24.215, 24.256, 24.273, 24.362, 24.363,
8-18 24.364, 24.365, 24.368, 24.387, 24.388, 24.406, 24.407, 24.409,
8-19 24.411, 24.422, 24.423, 24.424, 24.425, 24.434, 24.439, 24.440,
8-20 24.446, 24.447, 24.457, 24.458, 24.472, 24.616, 24.617, 24.618,
8-21 24.619, 24.620, 24.621, 24.622, and 24.623;
8-22 (2) 24.146, 24.170, 24.203, 24.218, 24.236, 24.257,
8-23 24.370, 24.371, 24.372, 24.373, 24.382, 24.383, 24.431, 24.432,
8-24 24.433, 24.442, 24.459, 24.460, 24.468, 24.469, 24.475, 24.508,
8-25 24.609, 24.610, 24.611, 24.612, 24.613, 24.638, 24.901, and 24.905;
8-26 (3) 24.352, 24.408, 24.410, 24.413, 24.474, 24.516,
8-27 24.517, 24.630, 24.631, 24.632, 24.633, 24.910, 24.912, and 24.913;
9-1 (4) 24.147, 24.245, 24.249, 24.274, 24.366, 24.402,
9-2 24.403, 24.404, 24.405, 24.462, 24.465, 24.466, and 24.467;
9-3 (5) 24.160, 24.359, 24.429, 24.456, 24.625, and
9-4 24.920;
9-5 (6) 24.239, 24.414, and 24.509;
9-6 (7) 24.421 and 24.504; and
9-7 (8) 24.415 and 24.626.
9-8 (b) A judicial district created by a section of the
9-9 Government Code that is repealed by Subsection (a) of this section
9-10 is abolished January 1, 1995.
9-11 SECTION 12. (a) Effective January 1, 1997, the following
9-12 sections of the Government Code are repealed:
9-13 (1) 24.112, 24.163, 24.182, 24.227, 24.229, 24.231,
9-14 24.235, 24.250, 24.251, 24.261, 24.262, 24.267, 24.269, 24.270,
9-15 24.271, 24.272, 24.369, 24.394, 24.479, 24.480, 24.483, 24.484,
9-16 24.485, and 24.497;
9-17 (2) 24.115, 24.197, 24.259, 24.374, 24.902, 24.903,
9-18 and 24.904;
9-19 (3) 24.118, 24.150, 24.169, 24.198, 24.252, 24.392,
9-20 24.488, 24.494, 24.498, 24.639, and 24.911;
9-21 (4) 24.139, 24.159, 24.175, 24.233, 24.263, and
9-22 24.268;
9-23 (5) 24.162 and 24.238;
9-24 (6) 24.201 and 24.242;
9-25 (7) 24.172 and 24.258; and
9-26 (8) 24.243.
9-27 (b) A judicial district created by a section of the
10-1 Government Code that is repealed by Subsection (a) of this section
10-2 is abolished January 1, 1997.
10-3 SECTION 13. (a) The judicial offices created by Section 2
10-4 of this Act exist for purposes of the primary and general elections
10-5 for state and county officers in 1994.
10-6 (b) Not later than December 15, 1994, the judge of a
10-7 district court that is abolished by Section 11 of this Act shall
10-8 transfer all cases pending in the court to another district court
10-9 in the county. The court to which the cases are transferred may
10-10 not be a court that is abolished by Section 11 of this Act.
10-11 (c) The judicial offices created by Sections 3-10 of this
10-12 Act exist for purposes of the primary and general elections for
10-13 state and county officers in 1996.
10-14 (d) Not later than December 15, 1996, the judge of a
10-15 district court that is abolished by Section 12 of this Act shall
10-16 transfer all cases pending in the court to the district court in
10-17 the county that is created by Section 2 of this Act.
10-18 (e) When a case is transferred from one court to another as
10-19 provided by Subsection (b) or (d) of this section, all processes,
10-20 writs, bonds, recognizances, or other obligations issued from the
10-21 transferring court are returnable to the court to which the case is
10-22 transferred as if originally issued by that court. The obligees in
10-23 all bonds and recognizances taken in and for a court from which a
10-24 case is transferred, and all witnesses summoned to appear in a
10-25 court from which a case is transferred, are required to appear
10-26 before the court to which a case is transferred as if originally
10-27 required to appear before the court to which the transfer is made.
11-1 SECTION 14. (a) Sections 2-10, 11(a), and 12(a) of this Act
11-2 take effect as provided by those sections.
11-3 (b) Sections 1, 11(b), 12(b), and 13 of this Act take effect
11-4 September 1, 1993.
11-5 SECTION 15. The importance of this legislation and the
11-6 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
11-7 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
11-8 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
11-9 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.