PMWJ C.S.S.B. 970 75(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


JUDICIAL AFFAIRS
S.B. 970
By: Wentworth (Puente)
5-5-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

 Bexar County currently has terms of court that last two months.  Under
the current law, a one-term extension can be granted, giving Bexar County
prosecutors only four months to bring an indictment against a suspect
after an arrest.  In complicated cases, this may be insufficient time. 


PURPOSE

 This bill increases the terms of courts in Bexar County from two months
to six months and deletes a conflicting requirement that the 289th
district court give preference to criminal cases. 


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 24.139(d), Government Code, to provide for
six-month terms for the 144th, 175th, 186th, 187th, 226th, 227th, and
290th district courts and deletes the requirement that the 289th Judicial
District give preference to criminal cases (Sec. 24.466 requires the 289th
district court to give preference to cases under the Family Code and
secondary preference to criminal cases). 

 SECTION 2 amends Section 24.466(c), Government Code, to provide for a
six-month term of court for the 289th district court. 

 SECTION 3 repeals Sections 24.366(c), 24.404(c), 24.405(c), and 24.467(c)
of the Government Code, which set terms for the 187th, 226th, 227th and
290th district courts, respectively. 

 SECTION 4.  Effective date.

 SECTION 5.  Emergency clause.