PMWJ H.B. 732 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS JUDICIAL AFFAIRS H.B. 732 By: Staples 3-12-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Currently, the Anderson County Court at Law has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in probate matters, including will contests, family law cases and proceedings, and, in felony cases to conduct arraignments, conduct pretrial hearings, and accept guilty pleas. In the course of general and contested probate proceedings, Texas Trust Code issues regularly are confronted. Many litigants are inconvenienced by the "splitting" of suits heard in two separate courts. Under the present statute, the Anderson County Court at Law regularly hears guilty pleas in criminal cases. In many cases where probation was assigned, it is revoked. In this instance, the case is then heard in a court which has jurisdiction, but not familiarity. Normally, the awarding court would hear probation revocation proceedings; however, this is not currently possible. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 732 grants concurrent jurisdiction with the district court to the Anderson County Court at Law in criminal cases and Trust Code matters. This bill will allow greater flexibility in the scheduling and docketing of cases in both the Anderson County Court at Law and district court. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1 adds new Subparagraphs (C) and (D) to Section 25.0032(a)(1) of the Government Code to grant a county court at law in Anderson County concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in criminal cases and actions and proceedings under the Texas Trust Code in addition to current concurrent jurisdiction. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date.