AEZ S.B. 68 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


CRIMINAL JURISPRUDENCE
S.B. 68
By: Moncrief (Place)
5-14-97
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND 

Currently, Section 23.101(a), Government Code, contains a priority list
for trial courts which can be interpreted as either an ordered or
non-ordered list.  When interpreted as an ordered list, criminal cases
relating to offenses against children are heard after all other cases.
This bill moves these cases up in the priority list with other similar
criminal cases. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 68 reprioritizes the order in which trial courts hear
criminal cases relating to offenses against children. 

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 23.101(a), Government Code, reprioritizes the
order in which trial courts of this state hear criminal cases relating to
offenses against children.  Makes nonsubstantive and conforming changes. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.