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.