S.B. 375 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 375 By: Williams Judicial Affairs Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Ninth Court of Appeals District is composed of 11 counties in southeast Texas. Current law requires this court to sit in Beaumont. However, the western part of this district, especially Montgomery County, has grown rapidly over the past few years so that now over 50% of the district's caseload originates from the western part of the district. Of the 14 court of appeals districts, only three, the 7th (Amarillo), the 9th (Beaumont) and the 11th (Eastland) require their justices to meet in only one location. S.B. 375 allows the Ninth Court of Appeals to meet in Beaumont or in the county seat of any county in the district. 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 S.B. 375 amends the Government Code to provide that the Ninth Court of Appeals may transact its business in the City of Beaumont or the county seat of any county in the district as the court determines is necessary or convenient. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect on September 1, 2003.