HBA-KMH H.B. 3829 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3829 By: Ellis, Dan Judicial Affairs 5/5/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Two district courts serve Polk, San Jacinto, and Trinity counties, the 411th District Court in San Jacinto County and the 258th District Court in Trinity County. Currently, the jurisdiction of the Polk County Court at Law is limited to misdemeanor cases. Polk County, although served by both of the district courts, does not have a judge present in the county on a daily basis. The expansion of jurisdiction of this court to include felony cases will increase the flexibility in assigning cases, particularly priority matters dealing with defendants who are in jail. H.B. 3829 expands the jurisdiction of the county court at law for Polk County. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 25.1892(a) and (e), Government Code, to expand the jurisdiction of the county court at law of Polk County to concurrent jurisdiction, rather than concurrent civil jurisdiction, with the district court, including juvenile matters under Section 23.001 (Juvenile Jurisdiction), and noncapital felony cases. Limits the attorneys authorized to serve the county court at law to the criminal district attorney. Specifies the duties of the district clerk as they apply to service as clerk of the county court at law to be limited to cases in which the county court at law exercises jurisdiction concurrent with the district court, rather than family law cases and proceedings. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.