BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        S.B. 1515
                                                       By: Turner
                                                    Jurisprudence
                                                           4-5-95
                                     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

As proposed, S.B. 1515 requires the grand juries for district
courts 26, 277, and 368 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, 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: upon passage.