PMWJ H.B. 3507 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS JUDICIAL AFFAIRS H.B. 3507 By: Merritt 4-9-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND On November 6, 1996, the Gregg County Commissioner's Court and Board of Judges requested support for legislation adding family law matters to the jurisdiction of the Gregg County Court at Law. Many County Courts at Law have this jurisdiction; however, the Act creating the Gregg County Court didn't include this jurisdiction. This legislation would enable the CCL judge to hear uncontested divorce and other family law matters when the judge in the 307th Family District Court is unavailable. PURPOSE This bill adds family law jurisdiction to Gregg County's statutory county courts. 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 adds a new Subsection (a) to Tex. Gov't Code ' 25.0942 to provide that a Gregg County Court at Law has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in family law cases. SECTION 2. Effective date. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.