By Hinojosa                                      H.B. No. 959

      75R4896 MWV-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the creation of two judicial districts in Hidalgo

 1-3     County.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Effective September 1, 1997, Subchapter C,

 1-6     Chapter 24, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 24.555 to

 1-7     read as follows:

 1-8           Sec. 24.555.  412TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HIDALGO COUNTY).  (a)

 1-9     The 412th Judicial District is composed of Hidalgo County.

1-10           (b)  The 412th Judicial District shall give preference to

1-11     criminal cases.

1-12           SECTION 2.  Effective January 1, 1998, Subchapter C, Chapter

1-13     24, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 24.556 to read as

1-14     follows:

1-15           Sec. 24.556.  413TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HIDALGO COUNTY).  (a)

1-16     The 413th Judicial District is composed of Hidalgo County.

1-17           (b)  The 413th Judicial District shall give preference to

1-18     criminal cases.

1-19           SECTION 3.  The 412th Judicial District is created September

1-20     1, 1997.

1-21           SECTION 4.  The 413th Judicial District is created January 1,

1-22     1998.

1-23           SECTION 5.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-24     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-1     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-2     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-3     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.