PMWJ H.B. 971 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


JUDICIAL AFFAIRS
H.B. 971
By: Hartnett
3-5-97
Committee Report (Substituted)




BACKGROUND 

 Dallas County has ten statutory county criminal courts.  It is unclear
that Dallas County statutory county criminal courts are the proper venue
to hear driver's license suspension appeals and applications for
occupational driver's licenses.  


PURPOSE

 This bill clarifies that Dallas County's criminal courts-at-law have
jurisdiction to hear appeals of the suspension and driver's licenses and
original jurisdiction regarding the granting of occupational driver's
licenses. 


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 amends Tex. Gov't Code ' 25.0593(a) to provide that a county
criminal court in Dallas County has concurrent jurisdiction with county
courts at law to hear appeals of the suspension of driver's licenses and
original jurisdiction regarding occupational driver's licenses. 

 SECTION 2.  Effective date.

 SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.


COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

 Section 1 in the original referred to civil jurisdiction on hearing
appeals of driver's license suspensions; this was changed to "concurrent
jurisdiction with county courts at law for Dallas County" in the
substitute. 
 Sections 2 and 3 are unchanged.