SRC-SEW S.B. 1813 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1813 77R11836 KLA-DBy: Ellis, Rodney Finance 5/8/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, many district courts in Texas are experiencing a growth in pending cases or have a large backlog of cases. The establishment of new judicial districts may help alleviate the backlog in cases. As proposed, S.B. 1813 creates additional judicial districts composed of specified counties and modifies the composition of other judicial districts. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 24C, Government Code, adding Section 24.542, as follows: Sec. 24.542. 397TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (COLLIN COUNTY). Provides that the 397th Judicial District is composed of Collin County. SECTION 2. (a) Amends Chapter 24C, Government Code, adding Section 24.556, as follows: Sec. 24.556. 412TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (FANNIN COUNTY). Provides that the 412th Judicial District is composed of Fannin County. (b) Amends the heading to Section 24.106, Government Code, as follows: Sec. 24.106. 6TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (LAMAR AND RED RIVER COUNTIES). (c) Amends Section 24.106(a), Government Code, to provide that the 6th Judicial District is composed of Lamar and Red River counties. (d) Amends the heading to Section 24.482, Government Code, as follows: Sec. 24.482. 336TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (GRAYSON COUNTY). (e) Amends Section 24.482(a), Government Code, to provide that the 336th Judicial District is composed of Grayson County. SECTION 3. Amends Chapter 24C, Government Code, by adding Section 24.557, as follows: Sec. 24.557. 413TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (JOHNSON AND SOMERVELL COUNTIES). Provides that the 413th Judicial District is composed of Johnson and Somervell counties. SECTION 4. Amends Chapter 24C, Government Code, by adding Section 24.558, as follows: Sec. 24.558. 414TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (NACOGDOCHES COUNTY). Provides that the 414th Judicial District is composed of Nacogdoches County. SECTION 5. (a) Amends Chapter 24C, Government Code, by adding Section 24.559, as follows: Sec. 24.559. 415TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (PARKER COUNTY). Provides that the 415th Judicial District is composed of Parker County. (b) Amends Section 32.184(a), Government Code, to authorize the Commissioners Court of Parker County to budget for and pay the judges of the 43rd and 415th judicial districts an annual salary not to exceed $7,800 for performing judicial and administrative services. (c) Amends Section 152.1901(b), Human Resources Code, to provide that the judge of the 43rd Judicial District is the chairman of the board. SECTION 6. Amends Chapter 24C, Government Code, by adding Section 24.560, as follows: Sec. 24.560. 416TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (TRAVIS COUNTY). Provides that the 416th Judicial District is composed of Travis County. Requires the 416th Judicial District to give preference to civil cases. SECTION 7. (a) Creates the 397th, 412th, 413th, 414th, 415th, and 416th judicial districts and provides that this Act takes effect September 1, 2001. (b) Requires the local administrative district judge to transfer all cases from Fannin County that are pending in the 6th District Court or the 336th District Court on the effective date of this Act to the 412th District Court. (c) Provides that, when a case is transferred from one court to another as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, all processes, writs, bonds, recognizances, or other obligations issued from the transferring court are returnable to the court to which the case is transferred, as if originally issued by that court. Requires the obligees in all bonds and recognizances taken in and for a court from which a case is transferred, and all witnesses summoned to appear in a court from which a case is transferred, to appear before the court to which a case is transferred as if originally required to appear before the court to which the transfer is made.