SRC-VRA H.B. 3595 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3595
78R9600 KLA-DBy: Chavez (Shapleigh)
Jurisprudence
5/13/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently the county criminal courts in El Paso County are limited by
statute as to their jurisdiction and their ability to transfer or receive
cases.  The judges of these courts are limited by the same statute in
their ability to sit in other courts and to have other judges sit in
theirs.  Removing these restrictions would provide the El Paso County
court system greater flexibility in dealing with its case load.   

H.B. 3595 deletes provisions in current law which prevent the judges of
the county criminal courts at law in El Paso County from transferring
cases between courts and from exchanging benches.  The bill modifies
provisions affecting the jurisdiction of El Paso criminal county courts at
Law. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Sections 25.0732(w), (x), and (z), Government Code, as
follows: 

(w) and (x)  Removes provisions which currently prevent the judges of the
county criminal courts at law in El Paso County from transferring cases
between courts and from exchanging benches.   
 
(z)  Removes the provision which limits the jurisdiction of the El Paso
Criminal County Courts at Law No. 1 and No. 2. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.