By Craddick H.B. No. 3188
74R3244 MWV-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the county courts at law in Midland County.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 25.1672(a), Government Code, is amended
1-5 to read as follows:
1-6 (a) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section
1-7 25.0003 and other law, a county court at law in Midland County has
1-8 concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in:
1-9 (1) family law cases and proceedings; and
1-10 (2) civil cases in which the matter in controversy
1-11 exceeds $500 but does not exceed $500,000, excluding interest,
1-12 statutory or punitive damages and penalties, and attorney's fees
1-13 and costs, as alleged on the face of the petition.
1-14 SECTION 2. Section 25.1672, Government Code, is amended by
1-15 adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
1-16 (c) In matters of concurrent jurisdiction, judges of the
1-17 county courts at law and district courts in the county may exchange
1-18 benches and courtrooms and may transfer cases between their dockets
1-19 in the same manner that district court judges exchange benches and
1-20 transfer cases under Section 24.303.
1-21 SECTION 3. Section 25.1672(d), Government Code, is amended
1-22 to read as follows:
1-23 (d) The judge of a county court at law shall be paid an
1-24 annual salary that is at least equal to the amount that is $1,000
2-1 less than the total annual salary, including supplements, of a
2-2 district judge in the county and <90 percent of the annual salary
2-3 paid by the state to a district judge in the county. The salary
2-4 shall be paid out of the county treasury. The judge> is entitled
2-5 to receive travel, educational, <expenses> and necessary office
2-6 expenses, including administrative and clerical assistance, in at
2-7 least the same manner and amount as the county judge. The bailiffs
2-8 and official court reporters of the county courts at law shall
2-9 receive the same compensation, paid in the same manner, as the
2-10 bailiffs and official court reporters of the district courts in the
2-11 county.
2-12 SECTION 4. Section 25.1672(g), Government Code, is amended
2-13 to read as follows:
2-14 (g) The district clerk serves as clerk of the county courts
2-15 at law in cases enumerated in Subsection (a) and Section 25.0003(c)
2-16 <(a)(2)>, and the county clerk serves as clerk of the county courts
2-17 at law in all other cases.
2-18 SECTION 5. Sections 25.1672(e), (h), (i), and (j),
2-19 Government Code, are repealed.
2-20 SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
2-21 SECTION 7. The importance of this legislation and the
2-22 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-23 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-24 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-25 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.