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.