BILL ANALYSIS

Judicial Affairs Committee

By: Turner/Wentworth (Krusee)
4-25-95
Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND

     The 26th, 277th, and 368th Judicial Districts, all of which
are located in Williamson County, have their grand jury terms set
by statute.  The process of seating grand juries for three
different district courts located in one county is becoming
increasingly cumbersome.  The authorizing statutes in the
Government Code currently require the terms of these three district
courts to begin on the first Mondays in January, March, May, July,
September, and November.  The majority of district courts in Texas
allow the judges involved to agree upon grand jury terms rather
than having the terms mandated by statute.

PURPOSE

     S.B. 1515 requires the grand juries for the 26th, 277th and
368th District Courts to begin on the first Mondays in January and
July.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

     SECTION 1 amends Sections 24.128, 24.454, and 24.513,
Government Code, as follows:
           Sec. 24.128.  26th JUDICIAL DISTRICT (WILLIAMSON COUNTY). 
     Provides that the terms of the 26th District Court begin on
     the first Mondays in January and July, rather than including
     March, May, September, and November.  Deletes provisions
     setting forth requirements for the judge of the 26th District
     Court to organize and impanel grand juries for Williamson
     County.
           Sec. 24.454.  277th JUDICIAL DISTRICT (WILLIAMSON
     COUNTY).  Provides that the terms of the 277th District Court
     begin on the first Mondays in January and July, rather than
     including March, May, September, and November.  Deletes
     provisions setting forth requirements for the judge of the
     277th District Court to organize and impanel grand juries for
     Williamson County.
           Sec. 24.513.  368th JUDICIAL DISTRICT (WILLIAMSON
     COUNTY).  Provides that the terms of the 368th District Court
     begin on the first Mondays in January and July, rather than
     including March, May, September, and November.  Deletes
     provisions setting forth requirements for the judge of the
     368th District Court to organize and impanel grand juries for
     Williamson County.
     SECTION 2.  Emergency clause.  Effective date.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

     Pursuant to a public notice posted on April 20, 1995, the
Committee on Judicial Affairs met in a public hearing on April 25,
1995, to consider S.B. 1515.  The Chair laid out S.B. 1515 and
recognized Rep. Hartnett to explain.  Burt Carnes, District Judge
for Williamson County, representing himself, testified for S.B.
1515.  There were no other witnesses.  Rep. Hartnett moved that
S.B. 1515 be reported favorably back to the full House, without
amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass, be printed and
sent to the Local & Consent Calendars Committee.  The motion
prevailed by the following record vote:  5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 PNV and
4 absent.