PMWJ S.B. 24 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS JUDICIAL AFFAIRS S.B. 24 By: Ratliff (Telford) 5-21-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Currently, certain provisions relating to the terms of the 5th, 102nd, and 202nd District Courts in Bowie County require that criminal cases be dismissed, unless good cause is shown, if the indictment is not presented against the defendant at the next term of court. This requirement may cause the defense and plaintiff attorneys to perform a function in the court that is a matter of formal procedure. PURPOSE S.B. 24 extends the term of court to every 6 months for the 5th, 102nd, and 202nd District Courts in Bowie County so that the formalities of the criminal defense attorney filing a motion to dismiss and the district attorney filing a response showing good cause are no longer necessary. 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 24.105(d), Government Code, to provide that the terms of the 5th District Court begin in Bowie County on the first Mondays in January and July, rather than the first Mondays in January, April, July and October. SECTION 2 amends Section 24.204(b), Government Code, to provide that the terms of the 102nd District Court begin in Bowie County on the first Mondays in January and July, rather than the first Mondays in January, April, July and October. SECTION 3. Amends Section 24.381(d), Government Code, to provide that the terms of the 202nd District Court begin on the first Mondays in January and July, rather than the first Mondays in January, April, July and October. SECTION 4. Effective date. SECTION 5. Emergency clause.