H.B. 2498 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2498 By: Luna Judicial Affairs Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Questions have arisen as to whether the County Court at Law No. 5 of Nueces County has jurisdiction to hear cases involving children for whom the court has appointed a temporary or permanent managing conservator, even though this court is mandated to give preference to various family law and child protective matters. This has caused needless confusion among parties seeking court hearings. H.B. 2498 resolves this issue by specifically granting this court jurisdiction over proceedings involving children for whom the court has appointed a temporary or permanent managing conservator. 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. 2498 amends the Government Code to provide that the County Court at Law No. 5 in Nueces County has jurisdiction over and shall give preference to any proceeding involving an order relating to a child in the possession or custody of the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services or for whom the court has appointed a temporary or permanent managing conservator, along with certain other family and mental health matters. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect on September 1, 2003.