SRC-SLL S.B. 1818 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1818 By: Cain Jurisprudence 4-4-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, county courts at law in Smith County do not have jurisdiction in felony cases. Because of the increasing work load being placed on the already overcrowded court dockets, the county commissioners and county judge of Smith County are requesting that the county courts at law be given limited jurisdiction. This bill will grant limited jurisdiction in felony cases to the county courts at law in Smith County. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1818 grants limited jurisdiction in felony cases to the county courts at law in Smith 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 25.2142(a-1), Government Code, to provide that a county court at law's felony jurisdiction is limited to jurisdiction in third degree felony cases and jurisdiction to conduct arraignments, conduct pretrial hearings, accept guilty pleas, and conduct probation revocation hearings in felony cases. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.