By Solis                                        H.B. No. 1224

      75R1777 MLS-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the composition of certain district courts in Cameron

 1-3     and Willacy counties.

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

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Sections 24.205, 24.209, 24.240, and 24.376,

 1-6     Government Code, are amended to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 24.205.   103RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT (CAMERON COUNTY [AND

 1-8     WILLACY COUNTIES]).  (a)  The 103rd Judicial District is composed

 1-9     of Cameron County [and Willacy counties].  The court shall give

1-10     preference to civil cases.

1-11           (b)  The 103rd, 107th, and 138th district courts have

1-12     concurrent jurisdiction.

1-13           (c)  The terms of the 103rd District Court begin[:]

1-14                 [(1)  in Cameron County] on the first Mondays in

1-15     February and July[;  and]

1-16                 [(2)  in Willacy County on the first Mondays in January

1-17     and June].

1-18           (d)  The judges of the 103rd and 107th district courts need

1-19     not impanel grand juries except in cases of emergency.

1-20           Sec. 24.209.  107TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (CAMERON COUNTY [AND

1-21     WILLACY COUNTIES]).  (a)  The 107th Judicial District is composed

1-22     of Cameron County [and Willacy counties].  The court shall give

1-23     preference to criminal cases.

1-24           (b)  The terms of the 107th District Court begin on the first

 2-1     Mondays in January and July.

 2-2           (c)  Section 24.205, relating to the 103rd District Court,

 2-3     contains provisions applicable to both that court and the 107th

 2-4     District Court.

 2-5           Sec. 24.240.  138TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (CAMERON COUNTY [AND

 2-6     WILLACY COUNTIES]).  (a)  The 138th Judicial District is composed

 2-7     of Cameron  County [and Willacy counties].  The court shall give

 2-8     preference to criminal cases.

 2-9           (b)  The terms of the 138th District Court begin[:]

2-10                 [(1)  in Cameron County] on the first Mondays in March,

2-11     July, and November[;  and]

2-12                 [(2)  in Willacy County on the first Mondays in

2-13     January, May, and September].

2-14           (c)  The judge of the 138th District Court shall impanel

2-15     grand juries at all times required by law.

2-16           (d)  Section 24.205, relating to the 103rd District Court,

2-17     contains provisions applicable to both that court and the 138th

2-18     District Court.

2-19           Sec. 24.376.  197TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (CAMERON COUNTY [AND

2-20     WILLACY COUNTIES]).  (a)  The 197th Judicial District is composed

2-21     of Cameron County [and Willacy counties].

2-22           (b)  The 197th District Court shall give preference to

2-23     criminal cases.

2-24           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.                

2-25           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-26     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-27     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 3-1     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

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