By Thompson H.B. No. 689
77R3860 QS-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the jurisdiction of statutory probate courts.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 25.0021, Government Code, is amended to
1-5 read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 25.0021. JURISDICTION. (a) If this section conflicts
1-7 with a specific provision for a particular statutory probate court
1-8 or county, the specific provision controls, except that this
1-9 section controls over a specific provision for a particular court
1-10 or county if the specific provision attempts to create jurisdiction
1-11 in a statutory probate court other than jurisdiction over probate,
1-12 guardianship, or mental health proceedings.
1-13 (b) A statutory probate court as that term is defined in
1-14 Section 3(ii), Texas Probate Code, has:
1-15 (1) the general jurisdiction of a probate court as
1-16 provided by the Texas Probate Code; and
1-17 (2) the jurisdiction provided by law for a county
1-18 court to hear and determine actions, cases, matters, or proceedings
1-19 instituted under:
1-20 (A) Section 166.046, 192.027, 193.007, 552.015,
1-21 552.019, 711.004, or 714.003, Health and Safety Code;
1-22 (B) Chapter 462, Health and Safety Code; or
1-23 (C) Subtitle C or D, Title 7, Health and Safety
1-24 Code.
2-1 (c) Subsection (a) does not apply to the Probate Court of
2-2 Denton County. This subsection expires May 1, 2002.
2-3 SECTION 2. (a) Section 25.0635(a), Government Code, is
2-4 amended to read as follows:
2-5 [(a)] A statutory probate court in Denton County has the
2-6 jurisdiction provided by Section 25.0021 [law for a county court
2-7 except that the court does not have the juvenile jurisdiction,
2-8 jurisdiction over misdemeanors under Section 26.045, habeas corpus
2-9 jurisdiction, or appellate criminal jurisdiction provided by law
2-10 for county courts. A statutory probate court has no criminal
2-11 jurisdiction other than the contempt powers provided by general law
2-12 for county courts].
2-13 (b) Sections 25.0635(b)-(d), Government Code, are repealed.
2-14 SECTION 3. The following provisions are repealed:
2-15 (1) Section 25.0032, Government Code, as added by
2-16 Chapter 394, Acts of the 72nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1991;
2-17 and
2-18 (2) Sections 25.00266, 25.0173(a), 25.0595(a),
2-19 25.0633(c), 25.0733(b) and (e), 25.0862(b-1), (c), and (d),
2-20 25.1034(a), 25.2224(a), and 25.2293(a)-(d), Government Code.
2-21 SECTION 4. (a) Except as provided by Section 5 of this Act,
2-22 a judge of a statutory probate court shall transfer all actions,
2-23 cases, matters, or proceedings over which the court loses
2-24 jurisdiction under this Act and that are pending in the court on
2-25 September 1, 2001, to a district or county court in the county with
2-26 jurisdiction over the action, case, matter, or proceeding.
2-27 (b) When an action, case, matter, or proceeding is
3-1 transferred as provided by Subsection (a) of this section, all
3-2 processes, writs, bonds, recognizances, or other obligations issued
3-3 from the transferring court are returnable to the court to which
3-4 the action, case, matter, or proceeding is transferred as if
3-5 originally issued by that court. The obligee on all bonds and
3-6 recognizances taken in and for a court from which an action, case,
3-7 matter, or proceeding is transferred and all witnesses summoned to
3-8 appear in a court from which an action, case, matter, or proceeding
3-9 is transferred are required to appear before the court to which a
3-10 case is transferred as if originally required to appear before the
3-11 court to which the transfer is made.
3-12 SECTION 5. (a) A judge of a statutory probate court in
3-13 Denton County shall transfer all actions, cases, matters, or
3-14 proceedings over which the court loses jurisdiction under this Act
3-15 and that are pending in the court on May 1, 2002, to a district or
3-16 county court in the county with jurisdiction over the action, case,
3-17 matter, or proceeding.
3-18 (b) When an action, case, matter, or proceeding is
3-19 transferred as provided by Subsection (a) of this section, all
3-20 processes, writs, bonds, recognizances, or other obligations issued
3-21 from the transferring court are returnable to the court to which
3-22 the action, case, matter, or proceeding is transferred as if
3-23 originally issued by that court. The obligee on all bonds and
3-24 recognizances taken in and for a court from which an action, case,
3-25 matter, or proceeding is transferred and all witnesses summoned to
3-26 appear in a court from which an action, case, matter, or proceeding
3-27 is transferred are required to appear before the court to which an
4-1 action, case, matter, or proceeding is transferred as if originally
4-2 required to appear before the court to which the transfer is made.
4-3 SECTION 6. A judge of a county court at law who is sitting
4-4 for a judge of a statutory probate court under Section 25.0733(e),
4-5 Government Code, immediately before the effective date of this Act
4-6 may continue to serve in that capacity until the regular statutory
4-7 probate court judge becomes available.
4-8 SECTION 7. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
4-9 section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
4-10 (b) Section 2 of this Act takes effect May 1, 2002.