BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        S.B. 1249
                                                     By: Montford
                                                    Jurisprudence
                                                          4-27-95
                                     Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

There are 73 state district courts located in rural areas of Texas. 
These courts serve multiple counties and have an average of less
than one judge per county.  While judicial districts in urban areas
generally have adequate funding for court coordinators, judges in
rural areas do not have any similar form of help.  Providing for
rural court coordinators was a recommendation of the Citizens'
Commission on the Texas Judicial System in 1993 and of the Judicial
Committee on Court Funding.

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1249 authorizes the legislature to provide funds
for a court coordinator, computer equipment, and support personnel
and services for a district court serving a judicial district with
more than one county if each county has an average of less than one
district judge.

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 75, Government Code, by adding Subchapter
I, as follows:

      SUBCHAPTER I.  COURT COORDINATORS; COMPUTER EQUIPMENT

     Sec. 75.531.  FUNDS FOR COURT COORDINATORS AND COMPUTER
     EQUIPMENT.  (a) Authorizes the legislature to provide funds
     for a court coordinator, computer equipment, and support
     personnel and services for a district court serving a judicial
     district with more than one county if each county has an
     average of less than one district judge.
     
     (b) Sets forth the method for determining the average number
       of district judges.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1995.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.