SRC-AXB S.B. 1228 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1228
76R9224  JMC-DBy: Ellis
Jurisprudence
3/26/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, many courts are experiencing an increase in caseload.  This bill
sets forth provisions creating new district courts. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1228 creates several district courts, and sets forth the
required preferences to certain cases and matters. 

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 Sections 24.524,
24.531-24.536, and 24.540-24.547, effective September 1, 1999, as follows: 

Sec.  24.524.  379TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (BEXAR COUNTY).   Provides that the
379th Judicial District is composed of Bexar County and requires this court
to give preference to criminal cases. 

Sec.  24.531.  386TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (BEXAR COUNTY).  Provides that the
386th Judicial District is composed of Bexar County and requires this court
to give preference to civil cases. 

Sec.  24.532.  387TH JUDICIAL  DISTRICT (BEXAR COUNTY).  Provides that the
387th Judicial District is composed of Bexar County and requires this court
to give preference to juvenile matters. 

Sec.  24.533.  388TH JUDICIAL  DISTRICT (BEXAR COUNTY).  Provides that the
388th Judicial District is composed of Bexar County and requires this court
to give preference to criminal cases. 

Sec.  24.534.  389TH JUDICIAL  DISTRICT (BEXAR COUNTY).  Provides that the
389th Judicial District is composed of Bexar County and requires this court
to give preference to civil cases. 
 
Sec.  24.535.  390TH JUDICIAL  DISTRICT (EL PASO COUNTY).  Provides that
the 390th Judicial District is composed of El Paso County. 

Sec.  24.536.  391ST JUDICIAL  DISTRICT (EL PASO COUNTY).  Provides that
the 391st Judicial District is composed of El Paso County, and requires
this court to give preference to family law matters. 

Sec.  24.538.  393RD JUDICIAL  DISTRICT (EL PASO COUNTY).  Provides that
the 393rd Judicial District is composed of El Paso County, and requires
this court to give preference to felony criminal law matters. 
 

Sec.  24.540.  395TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (FORT BEND COUNTY).  Provides that
the 395th Judicial District is composed of Fort Bend County. 

Sec.  24.541.  396TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (FORT BEND COUNTY).  Provides that
the 396th Judicial District is composed of Fort Bend County, and requires
this court to give preference to family law cases. 

Sec.  24.542.  397TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (COLLIN COUNTY).  Provides that the
397th Judicial District is composed of Collin County. 

Sec.  24.543.  398TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (TARRANT COUNTY).  Provides that the
398th Judicial District is composed of Tarrant County, and requires this
court to give preference to criminal cases. 

Sec.  24.544.  399TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (TARRANT COUNTY). Provides that the
399th Judicial District is composed of Tarrant County, and requires this
court to give preference to criminal cases. 

Sec.  24.545.  400TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (WOOD COUNTY).  Provides that the
400th Judicial District is composed of Wood County. 

Sec.  24.546.  401ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT (WILLIAMSON COUNTY).  Provides that
the 401st Judicial District is composed of Williamson County. 

Sec.  24.547.  402ND JUDICIAL DISTRICT (DENTON COUNTY).  Provides that the
402nd Judicial District is composed of Denton County, and requires this
court to give performance to family law matters. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 24.216, Government Code, as follows:

Sec.  24.216.  New heading:  114TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (SMITH COUNTY).
Limits the 114th Judicial District to Smith County, excluding Wood County.
Makes conforming changes. 

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

Sec. 24.417.  New heading:  294TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (VAN ZANDT COUNTY).
Limits the 294th Judicial District to Van Zandt County, excluding Wood
County.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 4.  Creates the 379th, 386th-391st, 393rd, and 395th-402nd judicial
districts September 1, 1999.  Requires the local administrative district
judge to transfer certain cases to the 400th District Court on September 1,
1999.  Creates provisions regarding proceedings for transferred cases. 

SECTION 5.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date:  90 days after adjournment.