BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 3489
79R487 YDB-D By: Dawson (Janek)
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Brazoria County has experienced great population growth and is in need of a new court to handle the case load. In 1987, all the county courts at law comprised an annual case disposition of 528 cases. By 2004, that number more than doubled to 1,127 cases. H.B. 3489 creates a new county court for Brazoria County.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 25.0221, Government Code, as follows:
Sec. 25.0221. BRAZORIA COUNTY. Provides that Brazoria County has certain statutory county courts, including the County Court Law No. 4 and Probate Court of Brazos County.
SECTION 2. (a) Provides that the County Court at Law No. 4 and Probate Court of Brazoria County is created January 1, 2007, notwithstanding Section 25.0221, Government Code, as amended by this Act.
(b) Requires the initial vacancy in the office of judge of the County Court at Law No. 4 and Probate Court of Brazoria County to be filled by election, notwithstanding Section 25.0009 (Vacancy), Government Code. Provides that the office exists for purposes of the primary and general elections in 2006. Provides that a vacancy after the initial vacancy is filled as provided by Section 25.0009, Government Code.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2005.