HBA-JLV H.B. 2788 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2788 By: Solomons Judicial Affairs 3/26/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law governing suits affecting the parent-child relationship provides that there is a district court of continuing jurisdiction. When a new court is established, cases are often transferred to that court from other district courts. House Bill 2788 clarifies current law to provide that a new district court to which cases are transferred has continuing exclusive jurisdiction in any case sent to the new court, including suits affecting the parent-child relationship. 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 2788 amends the Government Code to authorize, on the creation of an additional district court in a county, an existing district court in the county to transfer to the new court a case regarding a child who is subject to the continuing exclusive jurisdiction of the existing court, regardless of whether the case is pending in the existing court or the existing court rendered a final order in the case. The bill provides that the district court to which the case is transferred, acquires continuing exclusive jurisdiction over the child. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.