1-1 By: Hilderbran (Senate Sponsor - Fraser) H.B. No. 3637
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 7, 2001;
1-3 May 7, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on
1-4 Intergovernmental Relations; May 11, 2001, reported favorably by
1-5 the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 11, 2001, sent to
1-6 printer.)
1-7 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-8 AN ACT
1-9 relating to the County Court at Law of Burnet County.
1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11 SECTION 1. Section 25.0292, Government Code, is amended to
1-12 read as follows:
1-13 Sec. 25.0292. BURNET COUNTY COURT AT LAW PROVISIONS. (a)
1-14 Except as provided by Subsection (k), in addition to the
1-15 jurisdiction provided by Section 25.0003 and other law, a county
1-16 court at law in Burnet County has concurrent jurisdiction with the
1-17 district court in family law cases and proceedings, including
1-18 juvenile cases.
1-19 (b) A county court at law has the same terms of court as the
1-20 County Court of Burnet County.
1-21 (c) A special judge of a county court at law may be
1-22 appointed or elected in the manner provided by law for the
1-23 appointment or election of a special county judge.
1-24 (d) The district clerk serves as clerk of a county court at
1-25 law in matters of concurrent jurisdiction with the district court.
1-26 The county clerk serves as clerk of a county court at law in all
1-27 other cases. The district clerk shall establish a separate docket
1-28 for each county court at law.
1-29 (e) Except as provided by Subsection (f), a judge of a
1-30 county court at law shall be paid an annual salary set by the
1-31 commissioners court in an amount that is at least equal to the
1-32 amount that is $1,000 less than the total annual salary, including
1-33 contributions and supplements, received by a district judge in the
1-34 county. The salary of the judge shall be paid in equal monthly
1-35 installments out of the county treasury by the commissioners court.
1-36 (f) The Commissioners Court of Burnet County shall set the
1-37 salary of each judge of a county court at law who engages in the
1-38 private practice of law or in whose court fees and costs under
1-39 Section 51.702 are not collected.
1-40 (g) The county sheriff, in person or by deputy, shall attend
1-41 a county court at law as required by the judge.
1-42 (h) Practice in a county court at law is that prescribed by
1-43 law for county courts, except that practice and procedure, rules of
1-44 evidence, issuance of process and writs, and all other matters
1-45 pertaining to the conduct of trials and hearings in a county court
1-46 at law involving family law cases and proceedings are governed by
1-47 this section and the laws and rules pertaining to district courts.
1-48 If a family law case or proceeding is tried before a jury, the jury
1-49 shall be composed of 12 members.
1-50 (i) The laws governing the drawing, selection, and service
1-51 of jurors for a county court apply to a county court at law. On
1-52 request of the county judge or the judge of a county court at law,
1-53 jurors regularly impaneled for a week by the district court may be
1-54 made available and shall serve for the week in the county court or
1-55 a county court at law.
1-56 (j) The official court reporter of a county court at law is
1-57 a sworn officer of the court who holds office at the pleasure of
1-58 the court. The official court reporter of a county court at law is
1-59 entitled to receive compensation in an amount that is at least
1-60 equal to the compensation received by the lowest-paid official
1-61 court reporter in the district court in the county. The
1-62 compensation shall be paid in the same manner as compensation for a
1-63 district court reporter is paid.
1-64 (k) Section 25.0003(c)(2) [25.0003(c)] does not apply to a
2-1 county court at law in Burnet County.
2-2 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
2-3 * * * * *