By: Montford S.B. No. 1286
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1-1 relating to municipal courts of record in Odessa.
1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-3 SECTION 1. Subsection (a), Section 30.352, Government Code,
1-4 is amended to read as follows:
1-5 (a) The <In addition to its existing municipal court, the>
1-6 governing body of the City of Odessa may create municipal courts of
1-7 record by adoption of an ordinance consistent with this subchapter.
1-8 SECTION 2. Section 30.353, Government Code, is amended to
1-9 read as follows:
1-10 Sec. 30.353. JURISDICTION. (a) A municipal court of record
1-11 has <exclusive original> jurisdiction in all criminal cases <other
1-12 than traffic offenses> arising under the ordinances of the city
1-13 <and has the jurisdiction granted to municipal courts by state
1-14 law>.
1-15 (b) The court has concurrent jurisdiction with a justice of
1-16 the peace in any precinct in which the city is located in criminal
1-17 cases within the justice court jurisdiction that:
1-18 (1) arise within the territorial limits of the city;
1-19 and
1-20 (2) are punishable by fine only.
1-21 (c) The court has jurisdiction over cases arising outside
1-22 the territorial limits of the city under ordinances authorized by
1-23 Sections 215.072, 217.042, 341.903, and 401.002, Local Government
1-24 Code.
2-1 (d) The court has jurisdiction over Class C misdemeanor
2-2 cases that are punishable by fine only.
2-3 SECTION 3. Subsection (b), Section 30.354, Government Code,
2-4 is amended to read as follows:
2-5 (b) The governing body of the city shall appoint a municipal
2-6 court judge and an alternate municipal court judge under an
2-7 ordinance adopted by the governing body. A municipal judge,
2-8 including an alternate judge, is appointed for a term of two years
2-9 <provide by charter or ordinance for the election of a municipal
2-10 judge of a court of record. The election must be for a definite
2-11 term in office of not less than two nor more than four years>.
2-12 SECTION 4. Section 30.355, Government Code, is amended to
2-13 read as follows:
2-14 Sec. 30.355. SALARY. A municipal judge is entitled to
2-15 compensation by the city on a salary basis. The amount of the
2-16 salary is determined by the governing body of the city and may not
2-17 be diminished during the judge's term of office. The salary may
2-18 not be based directly or indirectly on fines, fees, or costs that
2-19 the judge is required by law to collect during his term of office.
2-20 <The governing body shall determine the salary of the judge at
2-21 least two weeks prior to the deadline for filing for election.>
2-22 SECTION 5. Subsection (b), Section 30.356, Government Code,
2-23 is amended to read as follows:
2-24 (b) The <If a municipal judge is temporarily unable to act
2-25 for any reason, the> governing body of the city may appoint <a>
2-26 qualified persons <person> to sit as alternate <for the regular>
2-27 municipal judges, who shall be known as alternate municipal judges
3-1 <judge>. An alternate judge must meet the qualifications
3-2 prescribed for the municipal judge. The governing body shall set
3-3 the compensation of the alternate judges. The municipal judge may
3-4 assign an alternate judge to act for a judge who is temporarily
3-5 unable to act for any reason. An alternate judge <The appointee>
3-6 has all the powers and duties of the office <and> while acting for
3-7 <serving is entitled to the same compensation as> the municipal
3-8 <regular> judge. <A temporary municipal judge serves at the
3-9 pleasure of the governing body until the regular judge returns.>
3-10 SECTION 6. Subsection (a), Section 30.358, Government Code,
3-11 is amended to read as follows:
3-12 (a) The city manager <governing body> shall provide for the
3-13 appointment of a clerk of the municipal courts of record, who shall
3-14 be known as the municipal clerk. The municipal clerk shall
3-15 perform, as applicable, the duties prescribed by law for the county
3-16 clerk of a county court at law. In addition, the clerk shall:
3-17 (1) maintain central docket records for all cases
3-18 filed in the municipal courts of record; and
3-19 (2) maintain an index of all municipal court of record
3-20 judgments in the same manner as county clerks are required by law
3-21 to prepare for criminal cases arising in county courts.
3-22 SECTION 7. Section 30.359, Government Code, is amended to
3-23 read as follows:
3-24 Sec. 30.359. RECORDING OF PROCEEDINGS; COURT REPORTER.
3-25 (a) The city by ordinance shall provide for the appointment of a
3-26 court reporter for the purpose of preserving a record in cases
3-27 tried before a municipal court of record. The court reporter must
4-1 meet the qualifications provided by law for official court
4-2 reporters.
4-3 (b) The city by ordinance may provide that, instead of
4-4 providing a court reporter at trial, <All> proceedings in a
4-5 municipal court of record may <shall> be recorded by a good quality
4-6 electronic recording device <and the recording kept and stored for
4-7 not less than 20 days>. If the recording device is used, the court
4-8 reporter need not be present at trial to record the proceedings.
4-9 The proceedings that are appealed shall be transcribed from the
4-10 recording by an official <a> court reporter.
4-11 (c) The city by ordinance may provide for the use of written
4-12 notes, transcribing equipment, or recording equipment, or a
4-13 combination of those methods, to record the proceedings of the
4-14 court. The court reporter shall keep the record for a 30-day
4-15 period beginning the day after the last day of the court
4-16 proceeding, trial, or denial of motion for new trial, whichever
4-17 occurs last.
4-18 (d) No one is required to record testimony in a case unless
4-19 the judge or one of the parties requests a record. A party's
4-20 request for a record must be in writing and must be filed with the
4-21 court not less than five days before the date of the trial.
4-22 (e) The court reporter shall certify the official record.
4-23 <(b) A municipal judge may appoint an official court
4-24 reporter to transcribe the trial proceedings, including testimony,
4-25 voir dire examinations, objections, and final arguments. Each
4-26 reporter must be a sworn officer of the court. The reporter shall
4-27 be compensated by the city in the manner determined by the
5-1 governing body of the city.>
5-2 SECTION 8. Subchapter L, Chapter 30, Government Code, is
5-3 amended by adding Sections 30.3601, 30.3602, 30.3603, and 30.3604
5-4 to read as follows:
5-5 Sec. 30.3601. PROSECUTION BY CITY ATTORNEY. All
5-6 prosecutions in a municipal court of record must be conducted by
5-7 the city attorney or an assistant or deputy city attorney.
5-8 Sec. 30.3602. COMPLAINT; PLEADING. (a) A complaint filed
5-9 in a municipal court of record must begin "In the name and by
5-10 authority of the State of Texas" and must conclude "Against the
5-11 peace and dignity of the State."
5-12 (b) Complaints must comply with Article 45.17, Code of
5-13 Criminal Procedure.
5-14 (c) Pleadings must be in writing and must be filed with the
5-15 municipal court clerk.
5-16 Sec. 30.3603. JURY. (a) A person brought before a
5-17 municipal court of record and charged with an offense is entitled
5-18 to be tried by a jury of six persons, unless that right is waived
5-19 according to law.
5-20 (b) A juror for the court must have the qualifications
5-21 required of jurors by law and must be a resident of the city.
5-22 (c) A juror is entitled to receive the compensation for each
5-23 day and each fraction of a day in attendance on a municipal court
5-24 of record jury as provided by Chapter 61.
5-25 (d) The clerk of the court shall establish a fair,
5-26 impartial, and objective juror selection process.
5-27 Sec. 30.3604. COURT RULES. (a) Except as modified by this
6-1 subchapter, the Code of Criminal Procedure as applied to county
6-2 courts at law governs the trial of cases before municipal courts of
6-3 record.
6-4 (b) Bonds must be payable to the state for the use and
6-5 benefit of the city. The court may not assess court costs other
6-6 than warrant fees, capias fees, and other fees authorized for
6-7 municipal courts of record.
6-8 (c) A peace officer may serve a process issued by a
6-9 municipal court of record.
6-10 (d) A conviction, judgment, and sentence are in the name of
6-11 the state, and the state recovers from the defendant the fine and
6-12 fees for the use and benefit of the city.
6-13 (e) Fines, fees, costs, and bonds shall be paid to the clerk
6-14 of the court, who shall deposit them in the city general fund.
6-15 SECTION 9. Section 30.361, Government Code, is amended to
6-16 read as follows:
6-17 Sec. 30.361. APPELLATE COURTS. (a) A defendant has the
6-18 right of appeal from a judgment of conviction in a municipal court
6-19 of record under the procedures prescribed by this subchapter. The
6-20 state has the right to an appeal as provided by Article 44.01, Code
6-21 of Criminal Procedure, and, for purposes of that appeal, the
6-22 prosecuting attorney is the city attorney or an assistant or deputy
6-23 city attorney.
6-24 <(b)> The <county court and a county court at law of> Ector
6-25 County courts at law shall be initial courts of review for
6-26 appellate review of cases from a municipal court of record and
6-27 shall hear all appeals except in cases in which the county courts
7-1 do not have jurisdiction of an appeal <appeals from a municipal
7-2 court of record. The county court's jurisdiction under this
7-3 subsection is limited to the jurisdiction it has of appeals> from a
7-4 justice court, in which case the appeal shall be heard by the court
7-5 that has jurisdiction of an appeal from the justice court.
7-6 (b) The appellate court shall determine each appeal from a
7-7 municipal court of record conviction on the basis of the errors
7-8 that are set forth in the defendant's motion for new trial and that
7-9 are presented in the transcript and statement of facts prepared
7-10 from the proceedings leading to the conviction. An appeal from a
7-11 municipal court of record may not be by trial de novo.
7-12 <(c) Appeals from convictions of the municipal courts that
7-13 are not of record are de novo. This subchapter does not affect the
7-14 procedure for an appeal from a municipal court that is not of
7-15 record.>
7-16 SECTION 10. Section 30.362, Government Code, is amended to
7-17 read as follows:
7-18 Sec. 30.362. APPEAL BOND <ON RECORD>. (a) The defendant
7-19 may not take an appeal until the defendant files an appeal bond
7-20 with the municipal court of record. The bond must be approved by
7-21 the court and must be filed not later than the 10th day after the
7-22 date on which the motion for new trial is overruled.
7-23 (b) The appeal bond must be in the amount of $50 or double
7-24 the amount of fines and costs adjudged against the defendant,
7-25 whichever is greater. The bond must be payable to the state for
7-26 the use and benefit of the city and must be conditioned on the
7-27 defendant's immediate and personal appearance in the court to which
8-1 the appeal is taken <An appeal from a municipal court of record
8-2 conviction is determined by the appellate court solely on the basis
8-3 of errors presented in the transcript and statement of facts
8-4 prepared from the municipal court of record proceedings>.
8-5 SECTION 11. Section 30.363, Government Code, is amended to
8-6 read as follows:
8-7 Sec. 30.363. PERFECTING APPEAL. (a) To perfect an appeal,
8-8 the defendant must file a motion for new trial not later than the
8-9 10th day after the date on which the judgment and sentence are
8-10 rendered <give notice of the appeal>. The motion constitutes the
8-11 assignments of error on appeal. A ground or error not set forth in
8-12 the motion is waived. If the court does not act on the motion
8-13 before the expiration of 30 days after it is filed with the clerk,
8-14 the motion is overruled by operation of law <notice of appeal may
8-15 be given orally in open court, or it may be given in writing and
8-16 filed with the municipal court of record. The notice is sufficient
8-17 if it shows the desire of the defendant to appeal from the
8-18 municipal court of record conviction>.
8-19 (b) After an order overruling a motion for new trial, the
8-20 defendant shall give written notice of appeal and pay the
8-21 transcript preparation fee not later than the 10th day after the
8-22 date on which the motion is overruled. The governing body by
8-23 ordinance may provide for a reasonable transcript preparation fee
8-24 not to exceed $25. The clerk shall note the payment of the fee on
8-25 the docket of the court <Notice of appeal must be given or filed:>
8-26 <(1) not later than the 10th day after the date on
8-27 which a motion for new trial is overruled, if a motion is made; or>
9-1 <(2) not later than the 10th day after the date on
9-2 which judgment is rendered, whether or not the punishment is
9-3 suspended by an order of probation>.
9-4 (c) The city attorney or the assistant or deputy city
9-5 attorney shall prosecute all appeals from the municipal courts of
9-6 record <A motion for new trial must be made not later than the
9-7 fifth day after the date on which judgment is rendered. If no
9-8 ruling is made, the motion is overruled by operation of law at the
9-9 expiration of the 10th day after its filing date>.
9-10 SECTION 12. Section 30.364, Government Code, is amended to
9-11 read as follows:
9-12 Sec. 30.364. RECORD ON APPEAL. The record on appeal
9-13 consists of a transcript and, if necessary to the appeal, a
9-14 statement of facts. The court reporter shall prepare the record
9-15 from the reporter's record or mechanical recordings of the
9-16 proceedings. The defendant shall pay for the cost of the
9-17 transcription.
9-18 SECTION 13. Section 30.365, Government Code, is amended to
9-19 read as follows:
9-20 Sec. 30.365. <CONTENTS OF> TRANSCRIPT. (a) The <On written
9-21 instructions from the defendant or the defendant's attorney, the
9-22 municipal> clerk of the municipal court of record shall prepare
9-23 under the clerk's <his> hand and seal of the court a transcript of
9-24 the municipal court of record proceedings after payment of the
9-25 transcript preparation fee required by Section 30.363. The clerk
9-26 shall prepare the transcript under written instructions from the
9-27 defendant or the defendant's attorney. Unless otherwise agreed by
10-1 the parties in writing, the <The> transcript must include copies
10-2 of:
10-3 (1) the complaint;
10-4 (2) court orders on any motions or exceptions
10-5 <material docket entries made by the court>;
10-6 (3) the jury <charge and> verdict, if the trial is by
10-7 jury;
10-8 (4) the judgment;
10-9 (5) any findings of fact or conclusions of law made by
10-10 the court <the notice of appeal>;
10-11 (6) the motion for new trial and the order of the
10-12 court on the motion <all written motions and pleas and orders of
10-13 the court>; <and>
10-14 (7) the notice of appeal;
10-15 (8) any statement of the parties regarding material to
10-16 be included in the record;
10-17 (9) the appeal bond;
10-18 (10) any statement of facts; and
10-19 (11) any signed paper designated as material by either
10-20 party <bills of exception>.
10-21 (b) The defendant or the defendant's attorney shall file a
10-22 copy of the written instructions with the clerk and shall deliver a
10-23 copy to the city attorney or an assistant or deputy city attorney.
10-24 (c) The city attorney or an assistant or deputy city
10-25 attorney shall file a written direction to the <The> clerk if <may
10-26 include in the transcript> additional portions of the trial
10-27 proceedings in the transcript are to be included <court if so
11-1 instructed in writing by either party>.
11-2 SECTION 14. Subsection (a), Section 30.367, Government Code,
11-3 is amended to read as follows:
11-4 (a) A statement of facts included in the record on appeal
11-5 must contain:
11-6 (1) a transcription of all or any part of the
11-7 municipal court of record proceedings in the case as recorded on
11-8 the electronic recording device or shown by the notes of the court
11-9 reporter recorded or taken before, during, or after the trial, if
11-10 the transcription is requested by a party, a party's <his>
11-11 attorney, or the municipal judge;
11-12 (2) a brief statement of the facts of the case proven
11-13 at the trial as agreed to by the defendant or the defendant's <his>
11-14 attorney and the prosecuting attorney; or
11-15 (3) a partial transcription and the agreed statement
11-16 of the facts of the case.
11-17 SECTION 15. Section 30.368, Government Code, is amended to
11-18 read as follows:
11-19 Sec. 30.368. TRANSFER <FILING> OF RECORD; FEE. The parties
11-20 must file the transcript and the statement of facts with the clerk
11-21 of the municipal court of record not <(a) Not> later than the 60th
11-22 day after the date on which the transcript preparation fee was
11-23 paid. The clerk shall promptly forward them to the appellate court
11-24 clerk <the notice of appeal is given or filed, the parties must
11-25 file with the clerk of the municipal court of record:>
11-26 <(1) the statement of facts;>
11-27 <(2) a written designation of material to be included
12-1 in the transcript in addition to the material required under
12-2 Section 30.365(a); and>
12-3 <(3) any matter to be included in the transcript that
12-4 is not in the custody of the clerk.>
12-5 <(b) The municipal judge may for good cause extend the time
12-6 for filing.>
12-7 <(c) On completion of the record, the clerk shall notify the
12-8 parties and the municipal judge shall approve the record in the
12-9 manner provided by the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1965, for record
12-10 completion notification and approval in the court of appeals.>
12-11 <(d) After the court approves the record, the clerk shall
12-12 promptly send it to the appellate court clerk for filing>.
12-13 SECTION 16. Section 30.369, Government Code, is amended to
12-14 read as follows:
12-15 Sec. 30.369. BRIEF ON APPEAL. (a) <A defendant's brief on
12-16 appeal from a municipal court of record must present points of
12-17 error in the manner required by the Code of Criminal Procedure,
12-18 1965, for a brief on appeal to the court of criminal appeals.>
12-19 <(b)> The appellant <defendant> must file a <the> brief on
12-20 appeal with the appellate court clerk not later than the 30th
12-21 <15th> day after the date on which the transcript and statement of
12-22 facts are filed with that <the appellate court> clerk.
12-23 (b) <(c)> The appellee <prosecuting attorney> must file the
12-24 appellee's brief with the appellate court clerk not later than the
12-25 30th <15th> day after the date on which the appellant's <defendant
12-26 files his> brief is filed <with the clerk>.
12-27 (c) To avoid unnecessary delay, the record and briefs on
13-1 appeal shall be limited as far as possible to the questions relied
13-2 on for reversal.
13-3 (d) On filing, each party shall deliver a copy of the brief
13-4 to the <opposing party or the> opposing party's attorney.
13-5 <(e) The appellate court may in its discretion extend the
13-6 times for filing briefs.>
13-7 SECTION 17. Section 30.370, Government Code, is amended to
13-8 read as follows:
13-9 Sec. 30.370. PROCEDURE ON APPEAL. <(a)> The appellate
13-10 court shall hear <and determine> an appeal from a municipal court
13-11 of record at the earliest possible time with due regard to the
13-12 rights of parties and the proper administration of justice. <The
13-13 court may not affirm or reverse a case based on mere technicalities
13-14 or on technical errors in the presentation and filing of the record
13-15 on appeal.> The court may determine the rules for oral argument.
13-16 The parties may submit the case on the records and briefs without
13-17 oral arguments.
13-18 <(b) The appellate court shall review all grounds of error
13-19 and arguments urged in the defendant's brief on appeal and may
13-20 review any unassigned error in the interest of justice.>
13-21 SECTION 18. Subsection (c), Section 30.371, Government Code,
13-22 is amended to read as follows:
13-23 (c) In each case decided by the appellate court, the court
13-24 shall deliver a written opinion or order <either> sustaining or
13-25 overruling each assignment of error presented. If an assignment of
13-26 error is overruled, no reason need be given by the appellate court,
13-27 but cases relied upon by the court may be cited. If an assignment
14-1 of error is sustained, the appellate court shall set forth the
14-2 reasons for the decision. The appellate court clerk shall mail
14-3 copies of the appellate court decision to the parties and to the
14-4 municipal judge as soon as the decision is rendered.
14-5 SECTION 19. Section 30.372, Government Code, is amended to
14-6 read as follows:
14-7 Sec. 30.372. CERTIFICATE OF APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS. When the
14-8 judgment of the appellate court becomes final, the clerk of that
14-9 court shall certify the proceedings and the judgment and shall mail
14-10 the certificate to the clerk of the municipal court of record.
14-11 When the clerk of the municipal court of record receives the
14-12 record, the <The municipal> clerk shall file the record and
14-13 certificate with the papers <records> in the case and note the
14-14 filing <certificate> on the docket. If the municipal court of
14-15 record's judgment is affirmed, further action to enforce the
14-16 judgment is not necessary except to:
14-17 (1) forfeit the bond of the defendant; <or>
14-18 (2) issue a writ of capias for the defendant; or
14-19 (3) issue an execution against the defendant's
14-20 property.
14-21 SECTION 20. Section 30.374, Government Code, is amended to
14-22 read as follows:
14-23 Sec. 30.374. APPEALS TO COURT OF APPEALS. An appeal of a
14-24 <Appeals to the court of appeals from the> decision of the
14-25 appellate court to the court of appeals is<, if permitted by law,
14-26 are> governed by the <provisions of the> Code of Criminal
14-27 Procedure, <1965, relating to direct appeals from a county or a
15-1 district court to the court of appeals,> except that<:>
15-2 <(1)> the transcript, <record and> briefs, and
15-3 statement of facts filed <on appeal> in the appellate court
15-4 constitute the transcript, <record and> briefs, and statement of
15-5 facts on appeal to the court of appeals unless the rules of the
15-6 court of criminal appeals provide otherwise<; and>
15-7 <(2) the record and briefs shall be filed directly
15-8 with the court of appeals>.
15-9 SECTION 21. Subsection (c), Sections 30.352 and Section
15-10 30.366, Government Code, are repealed.
15-11 SECTION 22. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
15-12 SECTION 23. The importance of this legislation and the
15-13 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
15-14 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
15-15 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
15-16 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.