1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the County Court at Law of Burnet County.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 25.0292, Government Code, is amended to
1-5 read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 25.0292. BURNET COUNTY COURT AT LAW PROVISIONS. (a)
1-7 Except as provided by Subsection (k), in addition to the
1-8 jurisdiction provided by Section 25.0003 and other law, a county
1-9 court at law in Burnet County has concurrent jurisdiction with the
1-10 district court in family law cases and proceedings, including
1-11 juvenile cases.
1-12 (b) A county court at law has the same terms of court as the
1-13 County Court of Burnet County.
1-14 (c) A special judge of a county court at law may be
1-15 appointed or elected in the manner provided by law for the
1-16 appointment or election of a special county judge.
1-17 (d) The district clerk serves as clerk of a county court at
1-18 law in matters of concurrent jurisdiction with the district court.
1-19 The county clerk serves as clerk of a county court at law in all
1-20 other cases. The district clerk shall establish a separate docket
1-21 for each county court at law.
1-22 (e) Except as provided by Subsection (f), a judge of a
1-23 county court at law shall be paid an annual salary set by the
1-24 commissioners court in an amount that is at least equal to the
2-1 amount that is $1,000 less than the total annual salary, including
2-2 contributions and supplements, received by a district judge in the
2-3 county. The salary of the judge shall be paid in equal monthly
2-4 installments out of the county treasury by the commissioners court.
2-5 (f) The Commissioners Court of Burnet County shall set the
2-6 salary of each judge of a county court at law who engages in the
2-7 private practice of law or in whose court fees and costs under
2-8 Section 51.702 are not collected.
2-9 (g) The county sheriff, in person or by deputy, shall attend
2-10 a county court at law as required by the judge.
2-11 (h) Practice in a county court at law is that prescribed by
2-12 law for county courts, except that practice and procedure, rules of
2-13 evidence, issuance of process and writs, and all other matters
2-14 pertaining to the conduct of trials and hearings in a county court
2-15 at law involving family law cases and proceedings are governed by
2-16 this section and the laws and rules pertaining to district courts.
2-17 If a family law case or proceeding is tried before a jury, the jury
2-18 shall be composed of 12 members.
2-19 (i) The laws governing the drawing, selection, and service
2-20 of jurors for a county court apply to a county court at law. On
2-21 request of the county judge or the judge of a county court at law,
2-22 jurors regularly impaneled for a week by the district court may be
2-23 made available and shall serve for the week in the county court or
2-24 a county court at law.
2-25 (j) The official court reporter of a county court at law is
2-26 a sworn officer of the court who holds office at the pleasure of
2-27 the court. The official court reporter of a county court at law is
3-1 entitled to receive compensation in an amount that is at least
3-2 equal to the compensation received by the lowest-paid official
3-3 court reporter in the district court in the county. The
3-4 compensation shall be paid in the same manner as compensation for a
3-5 district court reporter is paid.
3-6 (k) Section 25.0003(c)(2) [25.0003(c)] does not apply to a
3-7 county court at law in Burnet County.
3-8 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3637 was passed by the House on May
5, 2001, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3637 was passed by the Senate on May
17, 2001, by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________________
Date
__________________________
Governor