BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                     H.B. 2569

79R7990 KLA-F                                                                                              By: Eiland (Williams)

                                                                                                                                      Jurisprudence

                                                                                                                                            5/16/2005

                                                                                                                                           Engrossed

 

 

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently Chambers County and Liberty County share a district attorney, who serves the 253rd Judicial District.  Due to increased case loads, Chambers County would like its own district attorney.  H.B. 2569 creates a new office of district attorney in Chambers County.

 

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 43.170, Government Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 43.170. 253RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT.  (a)  Provides that the voters of Liberty County, rather than the 253rd Judicial District, elect a district attorney for the 253rd Judicial District who represents the state in that district only in that county and in all cases before the 75th District Court, rather than the 75th, 253rd, and 344th district courts. 

 

(b)  Authorizes the Commissioners Court of Liberty County to supplement the state salary of the district attorney.  Deletes existing text relating to a prohibition and a requirement regarding the supplemental compensation and an authorization of one or more counties comprising the district to supplement the state salary of the district attorney.   

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 43, Government Code, by adding Section 43.1777, as follows:

 

Sec. 43.1777.  344th JUDICIAL DISTRICT.  (a)  Provides that the voters of the 344th Judicial District elect a district attorney who represents the state in cases before the district courts of Chambers County. 

 

(b)  Authorizes the Commissioners Court of Chambers County to supplement the state salary of the district attorney.  Prohibits the supplemental compensation from exceeding $5,000 a year.

 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 46.002, Government Code, to include the 344th Judicial District among the state prosecutors subject to this chapter (Professional Prosecutors).  

 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: January 1, 2009.