SRC-SLL H.B. 786 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 786
By: Gallego (Ellis)
Jurisprudence
4-18-97
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Texas Judicial Council (council) is authorized to collect
statistics pertaining to the amount and character of the civil and
criminal business transacted by the courts of the state.  The council is
authorized to prescribe procedures and forms for the supplying of court
statistics, but does not explicitly have authority to define the terms
used in such procedures and forms.  Thus, some court officials may
interpret terms in such a manner as to result in discrepancies from court
to court in the statistics being reported.  This bill will require the
council to prescribe definitions of terms used for supplying statistics
and other information. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 786 requires the Texas Judicial Council to prescribe
definitions of terms used for supplying statistics and other information. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 71.035(b), Government Code, to require, rather
than authorize, the Texas Judicial Council (council) to prescribe
definitions of terms used in supplying statistics and information to the
council. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.