By Moncrief S.B. No. 68
75R571 MWV-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the priority given to the hearing of certain matters by
1-3 trial courts.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 23.101(a), Government Code, is amended to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 (a) The trial courts of this state shall regularly and
1-8 frequently set hearings and trials of pending matters, giving
1-9 preference to hearings and trials of the following:
1-10 (1) temporary injunctions;
1-11 (2) criminal actions, [other than those listed by
1-12 Subdivision (7),] with the following actions given preference over
1-13 other criminal actions:
1-14 (A) criminal actions against defendants who are
1-15 detained in jail pending trial; [and]
1-16 (B) criminal actions involving a charge that a
1-17 person committed an act of family violence, as defined by Section
1-18 71.01, Family Code; and
1-19 (C) an offense under:
1-20 (i) Section 21.11, Penal Code;
1-21 (ii) Chapter 22, Penal Code, if the victim
1-22 of the alleged offense is younger than 17 years of age;
1-23 (iii) Section 25.02, Penal Code, if the
1-24 victim of the alleged offense is younger than 17 years of age; or
2-1 (iv) Section 25.06, Penal Code;
2-2 (3) election contests and suits under the Election
2-3 Code;
2-4 (4) orders for the protection of the family under
2-5 Section 3.581, 71.11, or 71.12, Family Code;
2-6 (5) appeals of final rulings and decisions of the
2-7 Texas Workers' Compensation Commission and claims under the Federal
2-8 Employers' Liability Act and the Jones Act; and
2-9 (6) appeals of final orders of the commissioner of the
2-10 General Land Office under Section 51.3021, Natural Resources Code[;
2-11 and]
2-12 [(7) an offense under:]
2-13 [(A) Section 21.11, Penal Code;]
2-14 [(B) Chapter 22, Penal Code, if the victim of
2-15 the alleged offense is younger than 17 years of age;]
2-16 [(C) Section 25.02, Penal Code, if the victim of
2-17 the alleged offense is younger than 17 years of age; or]
2-18 [(D) Section 25.06, Penal Code].
2-19 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
2-20 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-21 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-22 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-23 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-24 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.