HBA-BSM H.B. 1791 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1791 By: Kuempel Judicial Affairs 3/9/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There has been an increase in population in Guadalupe County since the original county court at law was established. Additionally, the jurisdiction of the court was expanded in 1997 to include family law cases and juvenile matters. This has led to an increased demand on the court. Creating a second county court at law will help relieve the overcrowded conditions in the existing court. House Bill 1791 establishes a second county court at law with identical powers and duties as the current county court at law in Guadalupe County. 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 1791 amends the Government Code to create the County Court at Law No. 2 in Guadalupe County. The bill provides that the court will be created on January 1, 2003, or on an earlier date determined by the commissioners court by an order entered in its minutes. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.