SRC-AAA S.B. 615 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 615
By: Barrientos
Finance
70-9
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the population in Travis County has increased 95 percent from
295,516 in 1970 to 576,401 in 1990.  The population growth has put a
strain on all district courts, especially the criminal courts, and
threatens a logjam of new cases and inefficiency in dealing with pending
cases.  The last time a district court was created for criminal matters
was in 1982. S.B. 615 creates the 404th and 405th Judicial Districts in
Travis County. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 615 creates the 404th and 405th Judicial Districts in
Travis 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 Chapter 24C, Government Code, by adding Sections 24.548
and 24.549, as follows: 

Sec. 24.548. 404TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (TRAVIS COUNTY). Provides that the
404th Judicial District is composed of Travis County and is required to
give preference  to criminal cases. 

Sec. 24.549. 405TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (TRAVIS COUNTY). Provides that the
405th Judicial District is composed of Travis County and is required to
give preference  to criminal cases. 

SECTION 2.  Creates the 404th and 405th Judicial Districts. 
  Effective date: January 1, 1999.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.