SRC-JLB H.B. 501 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 501
78R808 SLO-DBy: Telford (Ratliff)
Jurisprudence
4/28/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the constitutional county court, in many counties, has general
criminal jurisdiction, which helps alleviate the burden on state district
courts.  A number of years ago, general criminal jurisdiction was removed
from the County Court of Marion County, which has led to a backlog in the
state district courts with jurisdiction in Marion County (District Courts
115 and 276).  H.B. 501 returns general criminal jurisdiction to the
County Court of Marion County.  

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 Section 26.258, Government Code, as follows:
 
Sec. 26.258.  MARION COUNTY.  Provides that the County Court of Marion
County has the general jurisdiction of a probate court, general criminal
jurisdiction and juvenile jurisdiction as provided by Section 26.042(b)
but has no other civil jurisdiction.  Deletes text regarding other civil
and criminal jurisdictions, which include receiving and entering guilty
pleas in misdemeanor cases. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.