By Goodman, et al. H.B. No. 1916
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to county criminal courts in Tarrant County.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 25.2221(b), Government Code, is amended
1-5 to read as follows:
1-6 (b) Tarrant County has the following county criminal courts:
1-7 (1) County Criminal Court No. 1 of Tarrant County;
1-8 (2) County Criminal Court No. 2 of Tarrant County;
1-9 (3) County Criminal Court No. 3 of Tarrant County;
1-10 (4) County Criminal Court No. 4 of Tarrant County;
1-11 (5) County Criminal Court No. 5 of Tarrant County;
1-12 (6) County Criminal Court No. 6 of Tarrant County;
1-13 (7) [(6)] County Criminal Court No. 7 of Tarrant
1-14 County;
1-15 (8) [(7)] County Criminal Court No. 8 of Tarrant
1-16 County;
1-17 (9) [(8)] County Criminal Court No. 9 of Tarrant
1-18 County; and
1-19 (10) [(9)] County Criminal Court No. 10 of Tarrant
1-20 County.
1-21 SECTION 2. Section 25.2223, Government Code, is amended by
1-22 amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (l) to read as
1-23 follows:
1-24 (a) A county criminal court in Tarrant County has
2-1 jurisdiction over all criminal matters and causes, original and
2-2 appellate, prescribed by law for county courts, but does not have
2-3 civil jurisdiction. The County Criminal Courts Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6
2-4 of Tarrant County also have concurrent jurisdiction within the
2-5 county of all appeals from criminal convictions under the laws of
2-6 this state and the municipal ordinances of the municipalities
2-7 located in Tarrant County that are appealed from the justice courts
2-8 and municipal courts in the county. The County Criminal Courts
2-9 Nos. 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of Tarrant County also have concurrent
2-10 jurisdiction with the district court in felony cases to conduct
2-11 arraignments, conduct pretrial hearings, and accept guilty pleas.
2-12 (l) The County Criminal Court No. 5 of Tarrant County shall
2-13 give preference to cases brought under Title 5, Penal Code,
2-14 involving family violence as defined by Section 71.01, Family Code,
2-15 and cases brought under Sections 25.07 and 42.072, Penal Code.
2-16 SECTION 3. Sections 25.2221(d) and 25.2225, Government Code,
2-17 are repealed.
2-18 SECTION 4. (a) The County Criminal Court of Appeals of
2-19 Tarrant County is redesignated as the County Criminal Court No. 5
2-20 of Tarrant County.
2-21 (b) The judge of the County Criminal Court of Appeals of
2-22 Tarrant County shall fill the initial vacancy in the office of
2-23 judge of the County Criminal Court No. 5 of Tarrant County. Unless
2-24 otherwise removed, the judge serves until December 31, 1998, and
2-25 until the judge's successor is elected and has qualified. In the
2-26 1998 general election and every four years thereafter, the
2-27 qualified voters of the county shall elect a judge of the County
3-1 Criminal Court No. 5 of Tarrant County for a regular term of four
3-2 years.
3-3 SECTION 5. Notwithstanding Section 25.2223(c), Government
3-4 Code, the initial term of the County Criminal Court No. 5 of
3-5 Tarrant County ends December 31, 1998. The commissioners court
3-6 shall determine terms after the initial term as provided by Section
3-7 25.2223(c), Government Code.
3-8 SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
3-9 SECTION 7. The importance of this legislation and the
3-10 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-11 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-12 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-13 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.