SRC-SLL H.B. 1688 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1688
By: Kuempel (Patterson)
Jurisprudence
5-9-97
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Guadalupe County Court at Law does not have jurisdiction
over family law cases and juvenile matters.  This bill will grant the
court jurisdiction over family law cases and proceedings, and set forth
regulations regarding the administration of the court. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1688 grants the Guadalupe County Court at Law
jurisdiction over family law cases and proceedings, and sets forth
regulations regarding the administration of the court. 

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 25.0962, Government Code, by adding Subsections
(b) and (i) and amending Subsection (f), to provide that a county court at
law in Guadalupe County has concurrent jurisdiction with the district
court in family law cases and proceedings including juvenile matters, in
addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section 25.0003.  Requires
practice and procedure, rules of evidence, issuance of process and writs,
and all other matters pertaining to the conduct of trials and hearings in
a county court at law involving cases in the court's concurrent
jurisdiction with the district court to be governed by this section and
the laws and rules pertaining to district courts as well as county courts.
Requires the jury to be composed of 12 members if a case in the court's
concurrent jurisdiction with the district court is tried before a jury.
Provides that the district clerk serves as clerk of a county court at law
in matters of concurrent jurisdiction with the district court, and the
county clerk shall serve as clerk of a county court at law in all other
cases. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.