BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 3214 By: Hawley (Zaffirini) Jurisprudence 05-23-95 Senate Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND The Bee County Commissioners Court unanimously approved the creation of a court to process civil, juvenile, criminal, probate, and mental commitment cases in a rapid and efficient manner. The caseloads in the county and district courts have increased significantly in the last two years. A new court may be helpful in processing the hundreds of new cases that are being filed in the district courts by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice prisoners. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 3214 creates a statutory county court in Bee County. 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 25C, Government Code, by adding Sections 25.0151 and 25.0152, as follows: Sec. 25.0151. BEE COUNTY. Provides that Bee County has one statutory county court, the County Court at Law of Bee County. Sec. 25.0152. BEE COUNTY COURT AT LAW PROVISIONS. (a) Provides that a county court at law in Bee County has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in family law cases and proceedings and, notwithstanding any law granting the district court exclusive jurisdiction, criminal cases. (b) Provides that a county court at law has concurrent jurisdiction with the justice court in all criminal matters prescribed by law for justice courts. Provides that this subsection does not affect the right of appeal to a county court at law from a justice court where the right of appeal to the county court exists by law. (c) Authorizes the judge to appoint a court coordinator or administrative assistant for a county court at law. Provides that a coordinator or assistant performs the duties prescribed by the judge and cooperates with the administrative judges and state agencies for the efficient operation of the courts and the administration of justice. Entitles the court coordinator or assistant to be paid from county funds the compensation, fees, and allowances set by the commissioners court. (d) Provides that the district clerk serves as clerk of a county court at law in matters of concurrent jurisdiction with the district court, and requires the county clerk to serve as clerk of a county court at law in all other cases. Requires the commissioners court to provide the personnel to operate a county court at law. (e) Requires the county attorney and the county sheriff to attend a county court at law as required by the judge. (f) Prohibits a judge of a county court at law in Bee County from being assigned under Chapter 74 to serve as a visiting judge in Bexar, Dallas, Ector, Fort Bend, Harris, Jefferson, Lubbock, Midland, Tarrant, or Travis County. SECTION 2. Provides that the County Court at Law of Bee County is created January 1, 1998, or on an earlier date determined by the commissioners court. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: 90 days after adjournment.