By Merritt H.B. No. 3695
77R14358 KLA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the creation of an additional county court at law in
1-3 Gregg County.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 25.0941, Government Code, is amended to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 25.0941. GREGG COUNTY. (a) Gregg County has the
1-8 statutory county courts provided by this section.
1-9 (b) Gregg County has a [one] statutory county court, the
1-10 County Court at Law No. 1 of Gregg County.
1-11 (c) Gregg County has an additional statutory county court,
1-12 the County Court at Law No. 2 of Gregg County.
1-13 SECTION 2. (a) Notwithstanding Section 25.0941, Government
1-14 Code, as amended by this Act, the County Court at Law No. 2 of
1-15 Gregg County is created only on a majority vote in favor of the
1-16 creation of the court by the qualified voters of that county at an
1-17 election held for that purpose.
1-18 (b) As soon as possible after the effective date of this
1-19 Act, the Commissioners Court of Gregg County shall order an
1-20 election on the question of approving the creation of an additional
1-21 county court at law in Gregg County as provided by this Act.
1-22 (c) An election ordered under Subsection (b) of this section
1-23 shall be held on the next uniform election date under Section
1-24 41.001, Election Code, that is on or after the 45th day following
2-1 the date the election is ordered.
2-2 (d) The County Court at Law No. 2 of Gregg County is created
2-3 January 1, 2003, only if a majority of the votes cast at the
2-4 election favor the creation of the court. The commissioners court
2-5 shall send a copy of the order creating the court to the Office of
2-6 Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System.
2-7 (e) If the creation of an additional county court at law in
2-8 Gregg County is not approved by the voters before January 1, 2002,
2-9 Section 25.0941(c), Government Code, as added by this Act, expires.
2-10 (f) Except as otherwise provided by this section, an
2-11 election held under this section must be conducted as provided by
2-12 the Election Code.
2-13 SECTION 3. Notwithstanding Section 25.0009(c), Government
2-14 Code, the initial vacancy in the office of judge of the County
2-15 Court at Law No. 2 of Gregg County shall be filled by election.
2-16 The office exists for purposes of the primary and general elections
2-17 in 2002. A vacancy after the initial vacancy is filled as provided
2-18 by Section 25.0009, Government Code.
2-19 SECTION 4. Except as provided by Section 3 of this Act, for
2-20 purposes of Section 201.027, Election Code, the effective date of
2-21 the Act creating the office is January 1, 2003.
2-22 SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-23 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-24 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
2-25 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-26 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.