SRC-JBJ S.B. 1436 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1436 By: Duncan Jurisprudence 4/9/1999 As Filed 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 away from the original county would expedite the trial process. This bill authorizes a judge to hear pre-trial matters, but is permissive and requires the consent of both parties. 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 proposed, 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 Subsection (e), to authorize a judge, who has jurisdiction over a suit pending on one county, to hear the suit's pretrial matters in a different county, if both parties agree. SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3.Emergency clause.