By Hamric                                             H.B. No. 3608

         75R13826 SAW-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the statutory probate courts of Harris County.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 25.1034(b), Government Code, is amended

 1-5     to read as follows:

 1-6           (b)  The Probate Courts Nos. [Court No.] 3 and 4 of Harris

 1-7     County have [has primary] responsibility for all mental  illness

 1-8     proceedings. The judge of the Probate Court No. 3 or 4 who has

 1-9     served for the greatest amount of time on the judge's respective

1-10     court is responsible [and] for all administration related to mental

1-11     illness proceedings, including budget preparation, staff

1-12     management, and the adoption of administrative policy.  [The

1-13     Probate Court No. 4 of Harris County has secondary responsibility

1-14     for mental illness proceedings.]

1-15           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-16           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-17     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-18     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-19     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-20     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.