BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        H.B. 3188
                                            By: Craddick (Bivins)
                                                    Jurisprudence
                                                          5-17-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

The Midland County Courts at Law have jurisdictional limits which
impede effective case management in the Midland courts.  In
addition, the current system for payment for county court at law
judges, bailiffs, and court reporters, is not competitive given the
scope of the courts' jurisdiction.

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 3188 expands the concurrent jurisdiction of
county courts at law and district courts in Midland County and
levels the salary differences between the judges, bailiffs, and
court reporters from county court at law judges and their district
court counterparts.

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 Section 25.1672(a), Government Code, to provide
that a county court at law in Midland County has concurrent
jurisdiction with the district court in civil cases in which the
matter in controversy is between $500 and $500,000, excluding
interest, statutory or punitive damages and penalties, and
attorney's fees and costs, as alleged on the face of the petition.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 25.1672, Government Code, by adding
Subsection (c), to authorize judges of the county courts at law and
district courts in the county to exchange benches and courtrooms
and to transfer cases between their dockets in the same manner that
district court judges exchange benches and transfer cases.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 25.1672(d), Government Code, to require
the judge of a county court at law to be paid an annual salary that
is at least equal to $1,000 less than the total annual salary of a
district judge in the county and is entitled to receive educational
expenses in at least the same manner and amount as the county
judge, rather than at least 90 percent of a district judge's
salary.  Deletes a provision requiring the salary to be paid out of
the county treasury.  Requires the bailiffs and court reporters of
the county courts at law to receive the same compensation, paid in
the same manner, as the bailiffs and court reporters in the county
district courts.

SECTION 4. Amends Section 25.1672(g), Government Code, to make
conforming changes.

SECTION 5. Repealer:  Sections 25.1672(e) and (h)-(j), Government
Code (relating to concurrent jurisdiction and rules between the
Midland County courts at law and the district and county courts).

SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 1995.

SECTION 7. Emergency clause.