SRC-SLL S.B. 970 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 970
By: Wentworth
Jurisprudence
4-4-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the term of court for all criminal courts in Bexar County is
two months.  The Fourth Court of Appeals recently issued an opinion that
requires a felony case in which an individual has been arrested, to be
indicted by the end of the grand jury term following the grand jury term
in which the individual was arrested.  In Bexar County this time can be as
short as 59 days.  In the majority of serious offenses, 59 days is not
enough time to investigate and prepare a case for indictment.  This bill
will change the court terms in certain districts in Bexar County. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 970 changes the court terms in certain districts in
Bexar 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 Section 24.139(d), Government Code, to delete the 289th
district court from those which shall give preference to criminal cases.
Deletes a provision providing that the terms of certain courts begin on
the first Mondays in March, May, September, and November. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 24.466(c), Government Code, to make a conforming
change. 

SECTION 3. Repealers: Sections 24.366(c), 24.404(c), 24.405(c), and
24.467(c), Government Code (187th, 226th, 227th, and 290th Judicial
Districts (Bexar County)). 

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 5. Emergency clause.