BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1189

                                                                                                                                        By: Hartnett

Judiciary

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Dallas County has 15 criminal district courts.  No new criminal district courts have been created in the county in the last 15 years.  Certain circumstances have recently developed necessitating the County Commissioners Court, the Presiding Judge of the First Administrative Judicial Region, and the 15 criminal district judges to make this request:

Dallas County has experienced a rising felony docket, an increased jail population, and severe budget restraints in the assigned judges program.  The result is that the county has been unable to provide the timely justice to which victims and those accused of crimes are entitled.

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

H.B. 1189 would add two new criminal district courts with the same powers and duties as the other district courts having criminal jurisdiction in Dallas County.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2005