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.