SRC-JXG S.B. 612 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 612
76R2810 JMC-DBy: Ogden
Intergovernmental Relations
2/25/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Williamson County has two county courts at law.  The last county
court was created in 1989. Since the addition of the second county court at
law in Williamson County, the number of filed cases has increased 68
percent, and cases pending have increased 92 percent. Williamson County has
experienced a recent population increase of more than 50 percent. An Austin
Transportation Study predicts that Williamson County's population will
increase nearly 400 percent in the next 25 years. The County Court at Law
No. 1 of Williamson County and the County Court at Law No. 2 of Williamson
County are backlogged, and only the creation of an additional statutory
court can relieve the crowded dockets. The commissioners court has pledged
support for an additional county court at law, by setting aside $800,000 in
the county's budget to fund it. This bill would create County Court at Law
No. 3 for Williamson County. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 612 creates County Court at Law No. 3 of Williamson
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 Section 25.2481, Government Code, to provide that
Williamson County creates a statutory county court, County Court at Law No.
3 of Williamson County. Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.