SRC-TAG S.B. 449 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 449
78R4200 SLO-DBy: Williams et al.
Jurisprudence
2/24/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the three member Ninth Court of Appeals is attempting to
perform the caseload of a four member court. Therefore, there has been a
high number of transferred cases and high ratio of cases assigned per
judge.  As proposed, S.B. 449 adds a fourth justice to the Ninth Court of
Appeals.  As a result, the Ninth Court of Appeals caseload would be
similar to the other four member courts, which reduces both the need for
visiting judges and extensive travel for litigants when cases are
transferred.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 22.216(i), Government Code, to provide that the
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Court of Appeals District consists of a
chief justice and three, rather than two, justices. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.