SRC-JBJ S.B. 1436 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 1436 By: Duncan Jurisprudence 7/27/1999 Enrolled DIGEST Currently, a judge must hear a case and make a ruling in the jurisdiction where the case is filed. Often, in rural areas, a judge may sit in different counties during the week or month. Therefore, parties desiring to dispense with pretrial matters or have a judge sign an order must wait until the judge returns to the county. A change in law that authorizes the judge to handle pretrial matters in a county in which the case is pending; or a county in which there is pending a related case to which the pretrial judge has been assigned, would expedite the trail process. This bill authorizes a judge to conduct any judicial proceedings, except the trial, in a different county, unless objected to by a party. S.B. 1436 authorizes a judge to hear pretrial matters in a county other than the one in which the suit is filed. PURPOSE As enrolled, S.B. 1436 authorize a judge to hear pretrial matters in a county other than the one in which the suit is filed. 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 74.094, Government Code, by adding Subsections (e) and (l), to authorize a judge who has jurisdiction over a suit pending in one county to conduct any of the judicial proceedings, except the trial on the merits, in a different county, unless objected to by any one party. Authorizes a pretrial judge assigned to hear pretrial matters in related cases under Rule 11, Texas Rules of Judicial Administration, to hold pretrial proceedings and hearing, on pretrial matters for a case to which the judge has been assigned in certain counties. SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3.Emergency clause.