BILL ANALYSIS
By: Smithee
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Chapter 25 of the Government Code pertains to the jurisdiction of the County Court at Law of Randall County. Under current law, only the district courts have the jurisdiction to accept pleas in uncontested matters.
This bill allows the County Court at Law of Randall County to accept pleas in uncontested matters in an effort to streamline the administration of justice in Randall County.
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
SECTION 1: Section 1 (a) (4) is amended to allow the County Court of Law of Randall County to accept pleas in uncontested matters and removes the clause that allows the aforementioned court to accept guilty pleas.
SECTION 2: Section 2 (a) applies the change in law by this Act to criminal cases that are pending or commencing on or after the effective date of this Act.
Section 2 (b) defines criminal cases as pending if a final judgment has not been entered in the case and commences when an indictment or information is presented to the court.
SECTION 3: Effective date.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2005.