HBA-JLV, BSM H.B. 62 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 62 By: Wolens Judicial Affairs 2/21/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, district and county court judges are required to conduct judicial proceedings at the county seat. Though recent case law suggests that trials may be held in locations in the county seat other than the courthouse, the law is unclear with regard to whether district and county court judges can try civil cases at institutions of higher education elsewhere in the county. There are concerns that this uncertainty in the law may deprive some students of the opportunity to witness judicial proceedings in a university setting. House Bill 62 extends authority to a judge of a district or county court to try a civil case at an institution of higher education in the county in which the case was filed. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 62 amends the Government Code to authorize a judge of a district or county court to try a civil case at an institution of higher education in the county in which the case was filed. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.