SRC-CDH H.B. 971 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 971 By: Hartnett (Shapiro) Jurisprudence 5-2-97 Engrossed DIGEST Currently, it is unclear whether Dallas County statutory county criminal courts are the proper venue to hear driver's license suspension appeals and applications for occupational driver's licenses. H.B. 971 clarifies that Dallas County's criminal courts-at-law have jurisdiction to hear appeals of the suspension of driver's licenses and original jurisdiction regarding the granting of occupational driver's licenses. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 971 establishes the jurisdiction of county criminal courts in Dallas County. 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 25.0593(a), Government Code, to provide that a county criminal court in Dallas County has criminal jurisdiction, original and appellate, provided by the constitution and law for county courts and concurrent jurisdiction with county courts at law for Dallas County to hear appeals of the suspension of driver's licenses and original proceedings regarding occupational driver's licenses. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.