H.B. No. 3235
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the creation of certain judicial districts and to the
1-3 offices of district attorneys of certain judicial districts.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 24.109, Government Code, is amended to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 24.109. 9TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (MONTGOMERY<, POLK, SAN
1-8 JACINTO,> AND WALLER COUNTIES). (a) The 9th Judicial District is
1-9 composed of Montgomery<, Polk, San Jacinto,> and Waller counties.
1-10 (b) <In Polk County, the 9th Judicial District has
1-11 concurrent jurisdiction with the county court in all misdemeanor
1-12 cases in which the county court has jurisdiction. Misdemeanor
1-13 cases may be filed in either the district or county court and may
1-14 be transferred from one court to another. A misdemeanor case in
1-15 which the courts have concurrent jurisdiction may not be
1-16 transferred from one court to another without the consent of the
1-17 judge of the court to which it is transferred.>
1-18 <(c)> The 9th and 155th district courts have concurrent
1-19 jurisdiction in Waller County.
1-20 (c) <(d)> The terms of the 9th District Court begin:
1-21 (1) in Montgomery County on the <16th Monday after
1-22 the> first Monday in January and the <18th Monday after the> first
1-23 Monday in July; and
2-1 (2) <in Polk County on the first Monday in January and
2-2 the third Monday in July;>
2-3 <(3) in San Jacinto County on the seventh Monday after
2-4 the first Monday in January and the ninth Monday after the first
2-5 Monday in July; and>
2-6 <(4)> in Waller County on the 10th Monday after the
2-7 first Monday in January and the 12th Monday after the first Monday
2-8 in July.
2-9 SECTION 2. Section 24.110, Government Code, is amended to
2-10 read as follows:
2-11 Sec. 24.110. 410TH <SECOND 9TH> JUDICIAL DISTRICT
2-12 (MONTGOMERY COUNTY<, POLK, SAN JACINTO, AND TRINITY COUNTIES>).
2-13 (a) The 410th <Second 9th> Judicial District is composed of
2-14 Montgomery County<, Polk, San Jacinto, and Trinity counties>.
2-15 (b) <In Polk County, the Second 9th Judicial District has
2-16 concurrent jurisdiction with the county court in all misdemeanor
2-17 cases in which the county court has jurisdiction. Misdemeanor
2-18 cases may be filed in either the district or county court and may
2-19 be transferred from one court to another. A misdemeanor case in
2-20 which the courts have jurisdiction may not be transferred from one
2-21 court to another without the consent of the judge of the court to
2-22 which it is transferred.>
2-23 <(c)> The terms of the 410th <Second 9th> District Court
2-24 begin<:>
2-25 <(1) in Montgomery County> on the third Monday in
3-1 January, the eighth Monday after the first Monday in January, the
3-2 third Monday in July, and the 10th Monday after the first Monday in
3-3 July<;>
3-4 <(2) in Polk County on the 18th Monday after the first
3-5 Monday in January and the 20th Monday after the first Monday in
3-6 July;>
3-7 <(3) in San Jacinto County on the 16th Monday after
3-8 the first Monday in January and the 18th Monday after the first
3-9 Monday in July; and>
3-10 <(4) in Trinity County on the first Monday in January
3-11 and the 23rd Monday after the first Monday in January>.
3-12 SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, is
3-13 amended by adding Section 24.537 to read as follows:
3-14 Sec. 24.537. 392ND JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HENDERSON COUNTY).
3-15 (a) The 392nd Judicial District is composed of Henderson County.
3-16 (b) A judge of the 392nd Judicial District may not be
3-17 assigned under Chapter 74 to serve as a visiting judge in Bexar,
3-18 Dallas, Ector, Fort Bend, Harris, Jefferson, Lubbock, Midland,
3-19 Tarrant, or Travis County.
3-20 SECTION 4. Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, is
3-21 amended by adding Section 24.553 to read as follows:
3-22 Sec. 24.553. 411TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (POLK, SAN JACINTO, AND
3-23 TRINITY COUNTIES). (a) The 411th Judicial District is composed of
3-24 Polk, San Jacinto, and Trinity counties.
3-25 (b) A judge of the 411th Judicial District may not be
4-1 assigned under Chapter 74 to serve as a visiting judge in Bexar,
4-2 Dallas, Ector, Fort Bend, Harris, Jefferson, Lubbock, Midland,
4-3 Tarrant, or Travis County.
4-4 SECTION 5. Section 43.105(a), Government Code, is amended to
4-5 read as follows:
4-6 (a) The voters of Montgomery County elect a district
4-7 attorney for the 9th Judicial District who represents the state in
4-8 that district court only in that county. The district attorney
4-9 also acts as district attorney for the 410th <Second 9th> Judicial
4-10 District in Montgomery County.
4-11 SECTION 6. Section 43.171(b), Government Code, is amended to
4-12 read as follows:
4-13 (b) The district attorney of the 258th Judicial District
4-14 also acts as district attorney for the 411th <Second 9th> Judicial
4-15 District in Trinity County.
4-16 SECTION 7. Section 44.287(a), Government Code, is amended to
4-17 read as follows:
4-18 (a) The criminal district attorney shall attend each term
4-19 and session of the <9th, second 9th, and> 258th and 411th district
4-20 courts of Polk County and each term and session of the inferior
4-21 courts held for the transaction of criminal business and shall
4-22 exclusively represent the state in all criminal matters before
4-23 those courts.
4-24 SECTION 8. Section 44.304(a), Government Code, is amended to
4-25 read as follows:
5-1 (a) The criminal district attorney shall attend each term
5-2 and session of the <9th, Second 9th, and> 258th and 411th district
5-3 courts of San Jacinto County and each term and session of the
5-4 inferior courts held for the transaction of criminal business and
5-5 shall exclusively represent the state in all criminal matters
5-6 before those courts.
5-7 SECTION 9. The following statutes are repealed:
5-8 (1) Section 32.204(d), Government Code;
5-9 (2) Section 32.228(d), Government Code; and
5-10 (3) Section 32.237(d), Government Code.
5-11 SECTION 10. The 392nd and the 411th judicial districts are
5-12 created and take effect September 1, 1995.
5-13 SECTION 11. Effective September 1, 1995, Subchapter C,
5-14 Chapter 24, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 24.523 to
5-15 read as follows:
5-16 Sec. 24.523. 378TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (ELLIS COUNTY). (a)
5-17 The 378th Judicial District is composed of Ellis County.
5-18 (b) A judge of the 378th Judicial District may not be
5-19 assigned under Chapter 74 to serve as a visiting judge in Bexar,
5-20 Dallas, Ector, Fort Bend, Harris, Jefferson, Lubbock, Midland,
5-21 Tarrant, or Travis County.
5-22 SECTION 12. Effective September 1, 1996, Subchapter C,
5-23 Chapter 24, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 24.525 to
5-24 read as follows:
5-25 Sec. 24.525. 380TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (COLLIN COUNTY). (a)
6-1 The 380th Judicial District is composed of Collin County.
6-2 (b) A judge of the 380th Judicial District may not be
6-3 assigned under Chapter 74 to serve as a visiting judge in Bexar,
6-4 Dallas, Ector, Fort Bend, Harris, Jefferson, Lubbock, Midland,
6-5 Tarrant, or Travis County.
6-6 SECTION 13. Effective September 1, 1995, Subchapter C,
6-7 Chapter 24, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 24.526 to
6-8 read as follows:
6-9 Sec. 24.526. 381ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT (STARR COUNTY). (a)
6-10 The 381st Judicial District is composed of Starr County.
6-11 (b) A judge of the 381st Judicial District may not be
6-12 assigned under Chapter 74 to serve as a visiting judge in Bexar,
6-13 Dallas, Ector, Fort Bend, Harris, Jefferson, Lubbock, Midland,
6-14 Tarrant, or Travis County.
6-15 SECTION 14. Effective September 1, 1995, Section 24.500,
6-16 Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
6-17 Sec. 24.500. 354TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HUNT AND<,> RAINS<,
6-18 AND ROCKWALL> COUNTIES). (a) The 354th Judicial District is
6-19 composed of Hunt and<,> Rains<, and Rockwall> counties.
6-20 (b) Section 24.108, relating to the 8th District Court,
6-21 contains provisions applicable to both that court and the 354th
6-22 District Court.
6-23 SECTION 15. Effective September 1, 1995, Subchapter C,
6-24 Chapter 24, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 24.527 to
6-25 read as follows:
7-1 Sec. 24.527. 382ND JUDICIAL DISTRICT (ROCKWALL COUNTY). (a)
7-2 The 382nd Judicial District is composed of Rockwall County.
7-3 (b) A judge of the 382nd Judicial District may not be
7-4 assigned under Chapter 74 to serve as a visiting judge in Bexar,
7-5 Dallas, Ector, Fort Bend, Harris, Jefferson, Lubbock, Midland,
7-6 Tarrant, or Travis County.
7-7 SECTION 16. Effective September 1, 1995, Subchapter C,
7-8 Chapter 24, Government Code, is amended by adding Sections 24.528
7-9 and 24.529 to read as follows:
7-10 Sec. 24.528. 383RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT (EL PASO COUNTY). (a)
7-11 The 383rd Judicial District is composed of El Paso County.
7-12 (b) A judge of the 383rd Judicial District may not be
7-13 assigned under Chapter 74 to serve as a visiting judge in Bexar,
7-14 Dallas, Ector, Fort Bend, Harris, Jefferson, Lubbock, Midland,
7-15 Tarrant, or Travis County.
7-16 (c) The secretary of state shall submit the changes made to
7-17 this section by H.B. 3235 of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session,
7-18 to the U.S. Justice Department for preclearance under Section 5 of
7-19 the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 as amended (42 U.S.C. Section
7-20 1973 et seq.). The changes made to this section by H.B. 3235 of
7-21 the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, become inoperative if the
7-22 U.S. Justice Department files a timely objection pursuant to
7-23 Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as amended.
7-24 Sec. 24.529. 384TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (EL PASO COUNTY). (a)
7-25 The 384th Judicial District is composed of El Paso County.
8-1 (b) A judge of the 384th Judicial District may not be
8-2 assigned under Chapter 74 to serve as a visiting judge in Bexar,
8-3 Dallas, Ector, Fort Bend, Harris, Jefferson, Lubbock, Midland,
8-4 Tarrant, or Travis County.
8-5 (c) The secretary of state shall submit the changes made to
8-6 this section by H.B. 3235 of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session,
8-7 to the U.S. Justice Department for preclearance under Section 5 of
8-8 the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 as amended (42 U.S.C. Section
8-9 1973 et seq.). The changes made to this section by H.B. 3235 of
8-10 the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, become inoperative if the
8-11 U.S. Justice Department files a timely objection pursuant to
8-12 Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as amended.
8-13 SECTION 17. Effective September 1, 1995, Section 24.136,
8-14 Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
8-15 Sec. 24.136. 34TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (<CULBERSON,> EL PASO
8-16 COUNTY<, AND HUDSPETH COUNTIES>). (a) The 34th Judicial District
8-17 is composed of <Culberson,> El Paso County<, and Hudspeth
8-18 counties>.
8-19 (b) In El Paso County, the 34th, 41st, 65th, 120th, and
8-20 171st district courts have concurrent jurisdiction.
8-21 (c) The terms of the 34th District Court begin<:>
8-22 <(1) in Culberson County on the third Monday in
8-23 October and the first Monday in April;>
8-24 <(2) in El Paso County> on the third Mondays in April
8-25 and September and the first Mondays in January, July, and
9-1 November<; and>
9-2 <(3) in Hudspeth County on the third Monday in March
9-3 and the first Monday in September>.
9-4 (d) A grand jury may not be impaneled in any district court
9-5 in El Paso County except the 34th District Court unless the judge
9-6 of another district court in the county calls for a grand jury by
9-7 special order.
9-8 SECTION 18. Effective September 1, 1995, Section 24.185,
9-9 Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
9-10 Sec. 24.185. 83RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT (<BREWSTER, JEFF DAVIS,>
9-11 PECOS, <PRESIDIO,> REAGAN, AND UPTON COUNTIES). (a) The 83rd
9-12 Judicial District is composed of <Brewster, Jeff Davis,> Pecos,
9-13 <Presidio,> Reagan, and Upton counties.
9-14 (b) The 83rd and 112th district courts have concurrent
9-15 jurisdiction in Pecos, Reagan, and Upton counties.
9-16 (c) The terms of the 83rd District Court begin:
9-17 (1) <in Brewster County on the fourth and 11th Mondays
9-18 after the first Mondays in January and July;>
9-19 <(2) in Jeff Davis County on the second Mondays in
9-20 January and July;>
9-21 <(3)> in Pecos County on the ninth Monday after the
9-22 first Mondays in January and July;
9-23 <(4) in Presidio County on the third Monday after the
9-24 first Mondays in January and July;>
9-25 (2) <(5)> in Reagan County on the 14th Monday after
10-1 the first Mondays in January and July; and
10-2 (3) <(6)> in Upton County on the 12th Monday after the
10-3 first Mondays in January and July.
10-4 (d) In each of the counties of Pecos and Upton, a petition
10-5 or other pleading filed in the district courts is sufficient if
10-6 addressed "To The District Court of Pecos County, Texas," or "To
10-7 The District Court of Upton County, Texas," respectively, without
10-8 giving the number of the district court in the address.
10-9 (e) The secretary of state shall submit the changes made to
10-10 this section by H.B. 3235 of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session,
10-11 to the U.S. Justice Department for preclearance under Section 5 of
10-12 the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 as amended (42 U.S.C. Section
10-13 1973 et seq.). The changes made to this section by H.B. 3235 of
10-14 the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, become inoperative if the
10-15 U.S. Justice Department files a timely objection pursuant to
10-16 Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as amended.
10-17 SECTION 19. Effective September 1, 1995, Section 24.389,
10-18 Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
10-19 Sec. 24.389. 210TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (<CULBERSON,> EL PASO
10-20 COUNTY<, AND HUDSPETH COUNTIES>). (a) The 210th Judicial District
10-21 is composed of <Culberson,> El Paso County<, and Hudspeth
10-22 counties>.
10-23 (b) Section 24.136, relating to the 34th District Court,
10-24 contains provisions applicable to both that court and the 210th
10-25 District Court.
11-1 SECTION 20. Effective September 1, 1995, Subchapter C,
11-2 Chapter 24, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 24.539 to
11-3 read as follows:
11-4 Sec. 24.539. 394TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (BREWSTER, CULBERSON,
11-5 HUDSPETH, JEFF DAVIS, AND PRESIDIO COUNTIES). (a) The 394th
11-6 Judicial District is composed of Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth,
11-7 Jeff Davis, and Presidio counties.
11-8 (b) The terms of the 394th District Court begin:
11-9 (1) in Brewster County on the first Monday in March
11-10 and the third Monday in September;
11-11 (2) in Culberson County on the third Monday in October
11-12 and the first Monday in April;
11-13 (3) in Hudspeth County on the third Monday in March
11-14 and the first Monday in September;
11-15 (4) in Jeff Davis County on the second Mondays in
11-16 January and July; and
11-17 (5) in Presidio County on the third Monday after the
11-18 first Mondays in January and July.
11-19 (c) The judge of the 394th Judicial District may not be
11-20 assigned under Chapter 74 of the Government Code to serve as a
11-21 visiting judge in Bexar, Dallas, Ector, Fort Bend, Harris,
11-22 Jefferson, Lubbock, Midland, Tarrant, or Travis County.
11-23 SECTION 21. Effective September 1, 1995, Sections 43.120(a)
11-24 and (b), Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
11-25 (a) The voters of Culberson, Hudspeth, and El Paso counties
12-1 <the 34th Judicial District> elect a district attorney for the 34th
12-2 Judicial District.
12-3 (b) The district attorney for the 34th Judicial District
12-4 also acts as district attorney for the 41st, 65th, 120th, and 171st
12-5 judicial districts, the 394th Judicial District in Culberson and
12-6 Hudspeth counties, and represents the state in all criminal cases
12-7 before every district court having jurisdiction in El Paso County.
12-8 SECTION 22. Effective September 1, 1995, Section 43.141,
12-9 Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
12-10 Sec. 43.141. 83RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT. (a) The voters of
12-11 Brewster, Jeff Davis, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, and Upton counties
12-12 <the 83rd Judicial District> elect a district attorney for the 83rd
12-13 Judicial District.
12-14 (b) The district attorney for the 83rd district also acts as
12-15 district attorney for the 394th Judicial District in Brewster, Jeff
12-16 Davis, and Presidio counties.
12-17 SECTION 23. (a) The local administrative district judge
12-18 shall transfer all cases from Culberson and Hudspeth counties that
12-19 are pending in the 34th and 210th district courts on the effective
12-20 date of this Act to the 394th District Court.
12-21 (b) The local administrative district judge shall transfer
12-22 all cases from Brewster, Jeff Davis, and Presidio counties that are
12-23 pending in the 83rd District Court on the effective date of this
12-24 Act to the 394th District Court.
12-25 (c) When a case is transferred from one court to another as
13-1 provided by Subsections (a) and (b) of this section, all processes,
13-2 writs, bonds, recognizances, or other obligations issued from the
13-3 transferring court are returnable to the court to which the case is
13-4 transferred as if originally issued by that court. The obligees in
13-5 all bonds and recognizances taken in and for a court from which a
13-6 case is transferred, and all witnesses summoned to appear in a
13-7 court from which a case is transferred, are required to appear
13-8 before the court to which a case is transferred as if originally
13-9 required to appear before the court to which the transfer is made.
13-10 (d) This section takes effect September 1, 1995.
13-11 SECTION 24. Subsection (a), Section 43.106, Government Code,
13-12 is amended to read as follows:
13-13 (a) The voters of <Grimes,> Madison<,> and Leon counties
13-14 elect a district attorney for the 12th Judicial District who
13-15 represents the state in that district court only in those counties.
13-16 SECTION 25. Subchapter B, Chapter 43, Government Code, is
13-17 amended by adding Section 43.1745 to read as follows:
13-18 Sec. 43.1745. 278TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT. (a) The voters of
13-19 Grimes County elect a district attorney for the 278th Judicial
13-20 District who represents the state only in that county.
13-21 (b) The district attorney shall attend each term and session
13-22 of the district courts and all other courts, except municipal
13-23 courts, in Grimes County and, unless otherwise provided by law,
13-24 shall exclusively represent the state in all criminal matters in
13-25 those courts.
14-1 (c) The district attorney has no power, duty, or privilege
14-2 relating to family law and juvenile matters, including matters
14-3 involving children's protective services, protective orders under
14-4 Chapter 71, Family Code, orders under Chapter 21, Family Code,
14-5 proceedings under Title 3, Family Code, civil commitment matters
14-6 under Subtitle C, Title 7, Health and Safety Code, or a quo
14-7 warranto or removal case, except, that if the county attorney fails
14-8 or refuses to act in a quo warranto or removal case, the district
14-9 attorney has the power, duty, and privilege to bring a removal of
14-10 quo warranto action.
14-11 (d) The district attorney has no power, duty, or privilege
14-12 in any civil matter pending before any court.
14-13 (e) The district attorney must be at least 30 years of age,
14-14 must have been a practicing attorney in this state for at least
14-15 five years, and must have been a resident of Grimes County for at
14-16 least three years immediately preceding election or appointment.
14-17 (f) The district attorney may not engage in the private
14-18 practice of law.
14-19 (g) The district attorney may, for the purpose of conducting
14-20 the affairs of the office, appoint assistant district attorneys,
14-21 investigators, and other necessary staff. The salaries of the
14-22 members of the staff of the district attorney's office shall be
14-23 paid from the officer's salary fund of the county with the approval
14-24 of the commissioners court.
14-25 SECTION 26. Subchapter B, Chapter 45, Government Code, is
15-1 amended by adding Section 45.193 to read as follows:
15-2 Sec. 45.193. GRIMES COUNTY. (a) The county attorney of
15-3 Grimes County shall represent the state, Grimes County, and the
15-4 officials of the county in all civil matters pending before the
15-5 courts of Grimes County and any other court.
15-6 (b) The county attorney has the powers, duties, and
15-7 privileges in Grimes County relating to civil commitment matters
15-8 under Subtitle C, Title 7, Health and Safety Code, family law and
15-9 juvenile matters, including children's protective services matters,
15-10 protective orders under Chapter 71, Family Code, orders under
15-11 Chapter 21, Family Code, and proceedings under Title 3, Family
15-12 Code.
15-13 (c) Except as provided by Section 43.1745, the county
15-14 attorney has all the powers, duties, and privileges in Grimes
15-15 County relating to quo warranto and proceedings for removal from
15-16 office.
15-17 (d) The county attorney has no power, duty, or privilege in
15-18 Grimes County relating to criminal matters, including asset
15-19 forfeitures under Chapter 59, Code of Criminal Procedure,
15-20 appearance bond forfeitures under Chapter 17, Code of Criminal
15-21 Procedure, and habeas corpus related to criminal matters.
15-22 SECTION 27. Section 46.002, Government Code, is amended to
15-23 read as follows:
15-24 Sec. 46.002. PROSECUTORS SUBJECT TO CHAPTER. This chapter
15-25 applies only to the following prosecutors:
16-1 (1) the district attorneys for the 2nd, 8th, 9th,
16-2 12th, 18th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 26th, 27th, 29th, 34th, 35th,
16-3 36th, 38th, 43rd, 47th, 49th, 51st, 52nd, 53rd, 63rd, 64th, 66th,
16-4 69th, 70th, 76th, 81st, 84th, 85th, 90th, 97th, 105th, 106th,
16-5 110th, 118th, 119th, 123rd, 142nd, 145th, 159th, 173rd, 196th,
16-6 198th, 216th, 220th, 229th, 235th, 253rd, 266th, 268th, 271st,
16-7 278th, 286th, 349th, and 355th judicial districts;
16-8 (2) the criminal district attorneys for the counties
16-9 of Anderson, Austin, Bastrop, Bexar, Bowie, Brazoria, Caldwell,
16-10 Calhoun, Cass, Deaf Smith, Denton, Eastland, Galveston, Gregg,
16-11 Harrison, Hays, Hidalgo, Jasper, Jefferson, Kaufman, Lubbock,
16-12 McLennan, Navarro, Panola, Polk, Randall, Rockwall, San Jacinto,
16-13 Smith, Tarrant, Taylor, Tyler, Upshur, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker,
16-14 Waller, Wichita, Wood, and Yoakum; and
16-15 (3) the county attorneys performing the duties of
16-16 district attorneys in the counties of Andrews, Callahan, Cameron,
16-17 Castro, Ellis, Falls, Fannin, Freestone, Grayson, Lamar, Lamb,
16-18 Lampasas, Lee, Limestone, Marion, Milam, Morris, Ochiltree, Orange,
16-19 Red River, Robertson, Rusk, Terry, Webb, and Willacy.
16-20 SECTION 28. Notwithstanding Section 41.010, Government Code,
16-21 the initial vacancy in the office of district attorney for the
16-22 278th Judicial District on creation of the office shall be filled
16-23 by election. The office of district attorney for the 278th
16-24 Judicial District exists for purposes of the primary and general
16-25 elections in 1996. The qualified voters of the county shall elect
17-1 the initial district attorney for the 278th Judicial District at
17-2 the general election in 1996 for a four-year term beginning
17-3 January 1, 1997. Thereafter, the district attorney of the 278th
17-4 Judicial District shall be elected for a four-year term as provided
17-5 by Section 65, Article XVI, Texas Constitution. A vacancy after
17-6 the initial vacancy is filled as provided by Section 12, Article
17-7 IV, Texas Constitution. This section takes effect September 1,
17-8 1995.
17-9 SECTION 29. Except as otherwise provided, this Act takes
17-10 effect January 1, 1997.
17-11 SECTION 30. The importance of this legislation and the
17-12 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
17-13 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
17-14 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
17-15 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.