1-1 By: Turner S.B. No. 387 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed January 31, 1995; January 31, 1995, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Intergovernmental 1-4 Relations; February 15, 1995, reported favorably by the following 1-5 vote: Yeas 11, Nays 0; February 15, 1995, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to authorizing certain counties to maintain a branch 1-9 courthouse outside the county seat and permitting certain 1-10 governmental entities to conduct certain functions at that 1-11 facility. 1-12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-13 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 292, Local Government Code, 1-14 is amended by adding Section 292.0231 to read as follows: 1-15 Sec. 292.0231. FACILITIES IN COUNTIES WITH POPULATIONS UNDER 1-16 30,000. (a) This section applies only to a county with a 1-17 population of less than 30,000. 1-18 (b) The commissioners court of a county may provide for, 1-19 operate, and maintain a branch courthouse outside the county seat. 1-20 The commissioners court may provide for a branch courthouse by 1-21 constructing a building or by purchasing, renting, or leasing 1-22 office space. The expense of operating and maintaining the branch 1-23 courthouse must be paid from county funds used to operate and 1-24 maintain other county buildings. 1-25 (c) If the branch courthouse is in a county-owned building, 1-26 the commissioners court: 1-27 (1) has care and custody of the building; 1-28 (2) may operate and maintain the building as it 1-29 operates and maintains the county courthouse; and 1-30 (3) may limit the use and maintenance of the building 1-31 as it finds necessary. 1-32 (d) On approval of the commissioners court, an office, a 1-33 department, a facility, a court, or another agency of the county or 1-34 of a judicial district may: 1-35 (1) maintain a branch office in the branch courthouse; 1-36 and 1-37 (2) conduct any function at the branch courthouse that 1-38 the entity is authorized to conduct at the courthouse located 1-39 inside the county seat. 1-40 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 1-41 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-42 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-43 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-44 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 1-45 * * * * *