HBA-CBW H.B. 1394 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1394 By: Berman Judicial Affairs 3/13/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the City of Bullard does not have a municipal court of record. Without a record of court proceedings, a person may appeal a municipal court decision to a county court without prima facie evidence of judicial or clerical error, effectively resulting in a de novo trial for that person. In addition to the possible nullification of sounding made municipal court decisions, such appeals to the county court may cause a backlog in county court cases. The creation of a municipal court of record may reduce the number of appeals filed with the county court. House Bill 1394 creates a municipal court of record in Bullard. 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 1394 amends the Government Code to create a municipal court of record in Bullard. The bill provides that a judge must be a resident of this state and a citizen of the United States. The bill provides that a municipal judge of a municipal court of record is not required to be a licensed attorney in good standing or to have two or more years of experience in the practice of law in this state. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.