SRC-CDH H.B. 3556 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3556
By: Hinojosa (Lucio)
Jurisprudence
5-13-97
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, in Hidalgo County, there is a problem of overcrowded 
dockets in the district courts, and 
criminal cases tend to dominate the majority of district court 
time.  As a result, civil suits often must 
wait years before having an opportunity to be presented for 
trial.  By raising the jurisdictional limit 
of the four county courts at law, more civil cases will be heard 
in the county courts at law, thus 
relieving the district courts of some of their burden.  In 
addition, the judges presiding over the four 
county courts at law are presently paid at a rate far below that 
of the district court judges in the 
county and other county court at law judges from around the 
state.  In order to equalize the salaries 
of the judges, the pay rate of the county court at law judges 
should be tied to the rate of pay for 
district court judges.  H.B. 3556 would add civil jurisdiction to 
a Hidalgo County court at law 
concurrent with a district court in which the matter in 
controversy does not exceed $500,000, and 
would also provide that the judges not be paid less than $1,000 
less than the total annual salary of 
a district judge in the county.  This bill also increases the 
stenographer's fee for the making of a 
record. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 3556 establishes provisions regarding the 
county courts at law of Hidalgo 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 Sections 25.1102(a), (c), and (f), Government 
Code, to establish that in 
addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section 25.0003 and 
other law, a county court at law in 
Hidalgo County has concurrent jurisdiction with the district 
court in civil cases in which the matter 
in controversy does not exceed $500,000, excluding interest, 
statutory or punitive damages and 
penalties, and attorney's fees and costs, as alleged on the page 
of the petition.  Requires the judge of 
a county court at law to be paid an annual salary that is not 
less than $1,000 less than the total annual 
salary, including supplements, received by a district judge in 
the county. Deletes existing text 
regarding the annual salary of County Court at Law No. 3 of 
Hidalgo County.  Requires the clerk of 
the court to tax as costs in certain cases a stenographer's fee 
of $20, rather than $3.

SECTION 2. Effective date:  September 1, 1997.
  Makes application of this Act prospective.