BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        H.B. 1574
                                          By: Hawley (Armbrister)
                                                    Jurisprudence
                                                          5-25-95
                                Senate Committee Report (Amended)
BACKGROUND

The 24th Judicial District is composed of DeWitt, Goliad, and
Refugio counties.  The district attorney for the 24th Judicial
District handles all cases pending in the district court.  There
are currently over 700 criminal cases pending in Refugio County.

Resolutions in support of a Refugio County district attorney were
passed by the Town of Refugio, the Town of Woodsboro, and the City
of Austwell.

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1574 creates the office of Refugio County
district attorney.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 43B, Government Code, by adding Section
43.182, as follows:

     Sec. 43.182.  REFUGIO COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY.  (a) Provides
     that the voters of Refugio County elect a district attorney.
     
     (b) Requires the district attorney to attend each term and
       session of the district courts of Refugio County and to
       represent the state in criminal cases pending in the county
       district courts.
       
       (c) Provides that the district attorney has all the powers,
       duties, and privileges in Refugio County relating to
       criminal matters for and in behalf of the state that are
       conferred on district attorneys in the various counties and
       districts.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 43.111, Government Code, to delete the
voters of Refugio County from the list of voters that elect a
district attorney for the 24th Judicial District.  Makes conforming
changes.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 46.002, Government Code, to include the
district attorney for the 24th Judicial District among the list of
prosecutors to which this chapter applies.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1995.

SECTION 5. Emergency clause.