SRC-AXB S.B. 158 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 158
By: Luna
Intergovernmental Relations
6/17/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

Currently, there is a strain on the county courts in Bexar County because
of the great population growth experienced by San Antonio.  More courts are
needed to handle the growing criminal and civil dockets.  S.B. 158 creates
and organizes certain county courts in Bexar County and requires the courts
to give preference to certain cases. 

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 158 creates County Courts at Law No. 1, 10, 11, and 12 of
Bexar County, Texas, and requires that these courts give preference to
certain cases. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 25.0171(b), Government Code, to add County Court
at Law No. 1 of Bexar County, Texas; County  Court at Law No. 10 of Bexar
County, Texas; County Court at Law No. 11 of Bexar County, Texas; and
County Court at No. 12 of Bexar County, Texas, to the list of county courts
in Bexar County.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 25.0172, Government Code, by adding Subsections
(a) and (b) and amending Subsections (c), (d), (l), (n), (o), (u), and (v),
to require County Court at Law No. 1 to give preference to criminal cases,
County  Court at Law No. 10 to give preference to civil cases, and County
Courts at Law No. 11 and 12 to give preference to criminal cases.  Makes
conforming changes. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Sections 25.0173(n) and (o), Government Code, to specify
that Probate Court No. 1 has certain responsibilities. 

SECTION 4.  Repealers:

 Section 25.0171(a), Government Code (regarding Bexar County courts).
 Section 25.0173(b), Government Code (regarding court jurisdictions).

SECTION 5.  Requires the judge of a certain court to transfer all mental
illness proceedings to Probate Court No. 1 of Bexar County on the effective
date of this Act. 

SECTION 6.  Provides that certain repealers and redesignations do not
affect the office of certain judges, and clarifies that the judge continues
to serve for the term to which elected. 

SECTION 7.  Effective date for this Act and for the creation of County
Courts at Law Nos. 10, 11, and 12, of Bexar County, Texas:  September 1,
1999. 

SECTION 8.  Emergency clause.