S.B. No. 979




AN ACT

relating to the composition of the 274th Judicial District and the 
jurisdiction of the 207th and 274th district courts.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 24.451, Government Code, is amended to 
read as follows:  
	Sec. 24.451.  274TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT ([CALDWELL,] COMAL, 
GUADALUPE, AND HAYS COUNTIES).  (a)  The 274th Judicial District is 
composed of [Caldwell,] Comal, Guadalupe, and Hays counties.
	(b)  The terms of the 274th District Court begin on the 
second Tuesdays in February and August in [Caldwell and] Comal 
County [counties], on the second Tuesdays in May and November in 
Guadalupe County, and on the second Tuesdays in June and December in 
Hays County.
	(c)  The [jurisdiction of the] 274th District Court has the 
same [is concurrent with the] jurisdiction as [of] the 22nd and the 
207th district courts in [Caldwell,] Comal[,] and Hays counties and 
concurrent jurisdiction with the 25th and Second 25th district 
courts in Guadalupe County.
	(d)  Section 24.123, relating to the 22nd District Court, 
contains provisions applicable to both that court and the 274th 
District Court.
	SECTION 2.  Subsection (c), Section 24.386, Government Code, 
is repealed.    
	SECTION 3.  (a)  The local administrative district judge 
shall transfer all cases from Caldwell County that are pending in 
the 274th District Court on September 1, 2003, to the 22nd and 207th 
district courts.
	(b)  When a case is transferred as provided by Subsection (a) 
of this section, all processes, writs, bonds, recognizances, or 
other obligations issued from the 274th District Court are 
returnable to the 22nd or 207th District Court, as applicable, as if 
originally issued by that court.  The obligees on all bonds and 
recognizances taken in and for the 274th District Court and all 
witnesses summoned to appear in the 274th District Court are 
required to appear before the 22nd or 207th District Court, as 
applicable, as if originally required to appear before that court.
	SECTION 4.  Section 24.386, Government Code, as amended by 
this Act, applies only to an action filed on or after the effective 
date of this Act.  An action filed before the effective date of this 
Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the action was 
filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.                           

                                                                              




______________________________    ______________________________
President of the Senate             Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 979 passed the Senate on 
April 3, 2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.




______________________________ 
   Secretary of the Senate             
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 979 passed the House on 
April 25, 2003, by a non-record vote.




______________________________ 
   Chief Clerk of the House            



Approved:


______________________________ 
            Date



______________________________ 
          Governor