By Cuellar H.B. No. 360
75R1833 MWV-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to certain courts in Webb County.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, is
1-5 amended by adding Section 24.543 to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 24.543. 398TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (WEBB COUNTY).
1-7 (a) The 398th Judicial District is composed of Webb County.
1-8 (b) The 398th District Court shall give preference to cases
1-9 involving family violence and cases under the Family Code.
1-10 (c) In addition to other jurisdiction provided by
1-11 law, the 398th District Court has the civil and criminal
1-12 jurisdiction, including probate and mental health jurisdiction, of
1-13 a county court. All civil and criminal matters within the
1-14 concurrent jurisdiction of the county and district courts must be
1-15 filed with the county clerk in the county court.
1-16 SECTION 2. Section 25.2421, Government Code, is amended to
1-17 read as follows:
1-18 Sec. 25.2421. WEBB COUNTY. (a) Webb County has one [the
1-19 following] statutory county court, [courts:]
1-20 [(1)] the County Court at Law No. 1 of Webb County[;
1-21 and]
1-22 [(2) the County Court at Law No. 2 of Webb County].
1-23 (b) The County Court at Law No. 1 [county courts at law] of
1-24 Webb County sits [sit] in Laredo.
2-1 SECTION 3. (a) The 398th Judicial District is created and
2-2 this Act takes effect January 1, 1999.
2-3 (b) The initial vacancy in the office of judge of the 398th
2-4 District Court shall be filled by election. The office exists for
2-5 purposes of the primary and general elections in 1998. A vacancy
2-6 after the initial vacancy is filled as provided by Section 28,
2-7 Article V, Texas Constitution.
2-8 (c) Not later than December 15, 1998, the judge of the
2-9 County Court at Law No. 2 of Webb County shall transfer all cases
2-10 pending in the court to the County Court at Law No. 1 of Webb
2-11 County.
2-12 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-13 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-14 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-15 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-16 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.