SRC-AAA S.B. 692 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 692
By: Lindsay
Jurisprudence
3-6-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, annexed citizens turn to courts for the resulution of an
annexation dispute.  Annexed citizens may feel that their right to
judicial relief is less than impartial even though a judge may have
followed the spirit of the law.  A decision rendered by a visiting judge,
although unfavorable to the annexed area, may be more palatable with the
knowledge that the judge was not elected by the citizens of an annexing
municipality.  S.B. 692 provides for jurisdiction and assignment of a
judge in an annexation proceeding. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 692 provides for jurisdiction and assignment of a judge
in an annexation proceeding. 

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 43C, Local Government Code, by adding Section
43.058, as follows: 

Sec. 43.058. CIVIL ACTIONS RELATING TO ANNEXATION.  Requires an annexation
proceeding to be brought in district court.  Sets forth requirements for
assigning a judge to hear the annexation proceeding.  Requires each
hearing in annexation proceedings to be held in the municipality that
institutes the annexation proceedings. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.