H.B. 3595 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 3595
By: Chavez
Judicial Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently the County Criminal Courts in El Paso County are limited by
statute as to their jurisdiction and 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 will provide the El Paso County Court system
greater flexibility in dealing with its case load.   

H.B. 3595 deletes provisions in current law 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.  The bill
also removes the provision which limits the El Paso Criminal County Courts
at Law to criminal jurisdiction, thereby facilitating the more efficient
administration of justice. 

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. 3595 amends the Government Code to remove 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.  The
bill also removes the provision which limits the El Paso Criminal County
Courts at Law to criminal jurisdiction. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.