H.B. 1677 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1677 By: Hegar Judicial Affairs Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Given the challenging fiscal environment at both the state and local level, the district attorney for the 329th judicial district and the county attorney for Wharton County have sought ways to work together to utilize available attorney resources more effectively. In order to do this, certain statutory jurisdictional changes are required. H.B. 1677 provides for these necessary changes. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 1677 amends the Government Code to provide that at the request of the county attorney of Wharton County, the district attorney may assist the county attorney in the prosecution of juvenile cases under the Family Code. The bill also provides that the county attorney for Wharton County represents the state in proceedings under Title 3 of the Family Code, and that the county attorney represents the Wharton County Drainage District. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003.