SRC-AXB S.B. 195 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 195
76R2443 DB-DBy: Cain
Jurisprudence
3/3/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Wood County shares the services of the 114th District Court with
Smith County and the 294th District Court with Van Zandt County.  Wood,
Smith, and Van Zandt counties have experienced rapid population growth,
increased case loads, and for the past four years, there have been over
2,000 cases annually pending for Wood County.  This bill would create a
district court solely for Wood County. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 195 creates the 410th Judicial District composed of Wood
County. 

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 Chapter 24C, Government Code, by adding Section 224.556,
as follows: 

Sec. 24.556.  410TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (WOOD COUNTY).  Provides that the
410th Judicial District is composed of Wood County. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 24.216, Government Code, as follow:
 
Sec. 24.216.  New heading:  114TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (SMITH COUNTY).
Provides that the 114th Judicial District is composed of Smith County,
rather than Smith and Wood counties.  Makes a conforming change. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 24.471, Government Code, as follows:

Sec. 24.471.  New heading:  294TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (VAN ZANDT COUNTY).
Provides that the 294th Judicial District is composed of Van Zandt County,
rather than Van Zandt and Wood counties.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 4.(a)  Effective date:  September 1, 1999.  Creates the 410th
Judicial District.   

 (b)  Requires the local judge to transfer certain cases to the 410th
District Court. 

(c)  Makes provisions regarding the case transfer process.

SECTION 5.  Emergency clause.