SRC-AAA S.B. 967 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 967 By: Nelson Jurisprudence 3-19-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, the probate court of Denton County is going through some technical restructuring. The problem is that the court is not maximizing its use. This bill provides for consent transfer of concurrent jurisdiction between district courts in Denton County and the probate court in Denton County, and provides technical corrections. This allows for maximum use and efficiency of the court. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 967 provides for consent transfer of concurrent jurisdiction between district courts in Denton County and the probate court in Denton County, and provides technical corrections. 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 Section 25.0631(c), Government Code, to provide that the statutory county courts of Denton County sit to serve the best interest of the parties, including to protect, rather than only for the protection of, wards or mental health respondents. SECTION 2. Amends Section 25.0632(g), Government Code, to provide an exception that in misdemeanor court and any other case in which the court has jurisdiction concurrent with a constitutional county court, a jury is composed of six members. SECTION 3. Amends Section 25.0635, Government Code, by amending Subsections (a) and (d) and by adding Subsection (e), to provide that a statutory probate court in Denton County has the jurisdiction provided by law for a county court and the civil jurisdiction provided by the constitution and by law for a district court. Provides that a statutory probate court has jurisdiction over the adjudication of any land title dispute. Authorizes exchanges between a judge of a statutory probate court of Denton County and a district judge of Denton County in the same manner that judges of district courts exchange benches and transfer cases under Section 24.303, Government Code. SECTION 4. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.