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.