CJ C.S.S.B. 299 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS JUVENILE JUSTICE & FAMILY ISSUES C.S.S.B. 299 By: RATLIFF (RAMSAY) 5-8-97 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND Currently, counties with populations of less than 1.5 million must hold hearings on protective orders within 14 days from the date an application is filed. Judges in multi-county judicial districts who must rotate among several areas have difficulty coordinating their rotation schedule to accommodate protective order hearings every 14 days as well as numerous other scheduled hearings and trials. This legislation grants all county judicial districts the same 20-day period in which to hold protective hearings as is given to counties having a population of 1.5 million or more. PURPOSE As proposed, the bill establishes the date for a hearing on an application for a protective order. 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 84.001(a), Family Code, to authorize a hearing on an application for a protective order take place not later than 20 days after the date the application is filed. SECTION 2. Amends Section 84.003, Family Code, to delete the 14 day limit for a rescheduled hearing. SECTION 3. Makes a conforming change. SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1997. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 5. Emergency clause. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The original authorized multi county judicial districts to hold hearings by 20 days after the request is made and the substitute authorizes all counties to set the hearing date by 20 days after the application is filed.