HBA-BSM H.B. 3248 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3248
By: Hinojosa
Judicial Affairs
3/29/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Hidalgo County has four county courts at law with jurisdiction
over civil as well as criminal matters.  In recent years, the dockets of
these courts have greatly increased.  In particular, these courts find
themselves devoting a larger portion of their time to criminal pretrial
hearings and trials.  House Bill 3248 creates a fifth county court at law
in Hidalgo County which solely deals with criminal cases.  

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 3248 amends the Government Code to create the County Criminal
Court at Law of Hidalgo County.  The bill provides that a county criminal
court at law in Hidalgo County has jurisdiction over all criminal causes
and proceedings, original and appellate, prescribed by law for county
courts. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2002.