HBA-LJP H.B. 3666 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3666 By: Miller Judicial Affairs 4/24/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, a county court at law in Erath County does not have concurrent jurisdiction with the district court to hear cases involving matters in which a governmental entity files suit to protect the health and safety of a child. In Erath County, cases related to the custody of a child by the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services are under the jurisdiction of the district court, but when the district court judge is unavailable there is no alternative venue for such cases. House Bill 3666 provides that the county court at law in Erath County has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in proceedings relating to the custody, care, or control of a child by the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services. 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 3666 amends the Government Code to provide that a county court at law in Erath County has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in proceedings in which the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services has assumed the care, custody, and control of a child. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.