H.B. 3274 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 3274
By: Gallego
Judicial Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Pecos County is in both the 83rd and 112th Judicial Districts and is
served by the district attorneys of both districts.  Local taxpayers wish
to save money by eliminating redundancies and to improve overall system
efficiency by expanding the duties of the county attorney.   

H.B. 3274 removes Pecos County from the list of counties that currently
elect district attorneys for the 83rd and 112th Judicial Districts and
provides that the county attorney of Pecos County shall perform the duties
currently performed by those district attorneys.  

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. 3274 amends the Government Code to remove Pecos County from the list
of counties that currently elect district attorneys for the 83rd and 112th
Judicial Districts.  The bill also provides that the county attorney of
Pecos County shall perform the duties and have the powers conferred on
district and county attorneys by general law, and that the county attorney
of Pecos County shall exclusively represent the state in all matters
pending before the district and inferior courts of Pecos County.   

Notwithstanding any other law, the county attorney of Pecos County is
entitled to continue receiving the statutory supplement provided to county
attorneys under Chapter 46 of the Government Code.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

January 1, 2005.