78R4199 YDB-D

By:  Duncan                                                       S.B. No. 1551


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation and composition of judicial districts and the election and powers and duties of certain district attorneys. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. (a) Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 24.557 to read as follows: Sec. 24.557. 413TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (JOHNSON COUNTY). The 413th Judicial District is composed of Johnson County. (b) The 413th Judicial District is created and this section takes effect September 1, 2003. SECTION 2. (a) Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 24.558 to read as follows: Sec. 24.558. 414TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (MCLENNAN COUNTY). The 414th Judicial District is composed of McLennan County. (b) The 414th Judicial District is created and this section takes effect September 1, 2003. SECTION 3. (a) Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 24.559 to read as follows: Sec. 24.559. 415TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (PARKER COUNTY). The 415th Judicial District is composed of Parker County. (b) Section 32.184(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) The Commissioners Court of Parker County may budget for and pay the judges [judge] of the 43rd and 415th judicial districts [Judicial District] an annual salary not to exceed $7,800 for performing judicial and administrative services. (c) Section 43.125, Government Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 43.125. 43RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT. The voters of the 43rd Judicial District elect a district attorney who represents the state in all cases before the 43rd and 415th district courts. (d) Section 152.1901(b), Human Resources Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) The [district court] judge of the 43rd Judicial District is the chairman of the board. (e) The 415th Judicial District is created and this section takes effect September 1, 2003. SECTION 4. (a) Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, is amended by adding Sections 24.560 and 24.561 to read as follows: Sec. 24.560. 416TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (COLLIN COUNTY). The 416th Judicial District is composed of Collin County. Sec. 24.561. 417TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (COLLIN COUNTY). (a) The 417th Judicial District is composed of Collin County. (b) The 417th District Court shall give preference to juvenile matters. (b) Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 24.562 to read as follows: Sec. 24.562. 418TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (COLLIN COUNTY). The 418th Judicial District is composed of Collin County. (c) The 416th and 417th judicial districts are created September 1, 2003, and Subsection (a) of this section takes effect September 1, 2003. (d) The 418th Judicial District is created September 1, 2004, and Subsection (b) of this section takes effect September 1, 2004. SECTION 5. (a) Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 24.564 to read as follows: Sec. 24.564. 420TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (NACOGDOCHES COUNTY). The 420th Judicial District is composed of Nacogdoches County. (b) The 420th Judicial District is created and this section takes effect September 1, 2003. SECTION 6. (a) Section 24.185, Government Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 24.185. 83RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT (PECOS, TERRELL, [UPTON,] AND VAL VERDE COUNTIES). (a) The 83rd Judicial District is composed of Pecos, Terrell, [Upton,] and Val Verde counties. (b) The 83rd and 112th district courts have concurrent jurisdiction in Pecos County [and Upton counties]. (c) The 83rd and 63rd district courts have concurrent jurisdiction in Terrell and Val Verde counties. (d) The terms of the 83rd District Court begin[: [(1)] on the second Monday in January and July[; and [(2) in Upton County on the 12th Monday after the first Mondays in January and July]. (e) In each of the counties of Pecos, Terrell, [Upton,] and Val Verde, a petition or other pleading filed in the district courts is sufficient if addressed "To The District Court of Pecos County, Texas,", "To The District Court of Terrell County, Texas,", ["To The District Court of Upton County, Texas,",] or "To The District Court of Val Verde County, Texas," respectively, without giving the number of the district court in the address. (b) Section 43.141(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) The voters of Brewster, Jeff Davis, Pecos, and Presidio [, and Upton] counties elect a district attorney for the 83rd Judicial District. (c) The local administrative district judge shall transfer all cases from Upton County that are pending in the 83rd District Court on September 1, 2003, to the 112th District Court. (d) When a case is transferred as provided by Subsection (c) of this section, all processes, writs, bonds, recognizances, or other obligations issued from the 83rd District Court are returnable to the 112th District Court as if originally issued by that court. The obligees on all bonds and recognizances taken in and for the 83rd District Court and all witnesses summoned to appear in the 83rd District Court are required to appear before the 112th District Court as if originally required to appear before that court. (e) Section 43.141(a), Government Code, as amended by this section, does not affect the election of a district attorney for the 83rd Judicial District held before September 1, 2003. The district attorney of the 83rd Judicial District elected before and serving on that date shall serve the remainder of the elected term, unless otherwise removed by law. (f) This section takes effect September 1, 2003. SECTION 7. (a) Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 24.566 to read as follows: Sec. 24.566. 422ND JUDICIAL DISTRICT (KAUFMAN COUNTY). The 422nd Judicial District is composed of Kaufman County. (b) The 422nd Judicial District is created and this section takes effect September 1, 2003. SECTION 8. (a) Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 24.567 to read as follows: Sec. 24.567. 423RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT (TRAVIS COUNTY). The 423rd Judicial District is composed of Travis County. (b) The 423rd Judicial District is created and this section takes effect September 1, 2003. SECTION 9. Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this Act takes effect September 1, 2003.