PMWJ H.B. 3504 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS JUDICIAL AFFAIRS H.B. 3504 By: Kamel 4-2-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Because of the ever-increasing work load being placed on the already over-crowded court dockets, the county commissioners and county judge of Smith County are requesting that the county courts-at-law be given limited felony jurisdiction. PURPOSE House Bill 3504 states that the county courts-at-law in Smith County do not have jurisdiction in capital felony cases or felonies of the first or second degree. 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 Section 25.2142(a-1), Government Code, to provide felony jurisdiction for a county court-at-law in Smith County, except in capital felony cases or felonies of the first or second degree. SECTION 2. Effective date. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.