BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1552 By: Cuellar of Webb March 14, 1995 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND This section of the Government Code, affecting only Webb County, was amended in the past and it inadvertently required that criminal cases be filed at random. This could conceivably impact on the District Attorney's right to present cases to the respective grand juries of each court. PURPOSE This bill allows the Webb County assistant district attorneys to stay with a case assigned prior to indictment. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1 amends Section 24.151(f) of the Government Code to remove criminal cases in Webb County from the requirement that such cases be assigned and docketed at random. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION Pursuant to a public notice posted March 8, 1995, in accordance with House rules, the Committee on Judicial Affairs met in a public hearing on March 14, 1995, to consider House Bill 1552. The Chair recognized the author, Rep. Henry Cuellar, to explain the bill. Monica Notzon, representing the Webb County District Attorney's Office and Webb County judges, testified for H.B. 1552. There were no other witnesses for, against or neutral on the bill. Rep. Solis moved that H.B. 1552 be reported back to the full House, without amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass, be printed and sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars. The motion prevailed by the following record vote: 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 PNV and 3 absent.