BILL ANALYSIS
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, there are four County Court at Law courts in Hidalgo County. These courts serve one of the fastest growing areas in Texas. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2000 population for Hidalgo County was 569,463, and is predicted to grow to over 700,000 by 2006. The Local Presiding Administrative Judge of the Hidalgo County Board of Judges has reviewed and determined that the new filings of both criminal and civil cases have increased from 15,941 to 19,586, or 23%, between 2001 and 2004. The increase in population coupled with the increase of new filings, makes it necessary to create a new County Court to continue to provide the high level of justice currently being administered. Also, due to the population size of Hidalgo County, it is being requested that the new County Court at Law will have a preference for family law.
The purpose of this bill is to create a new County Court at Law in Hidalgo County with a preference for family law.
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
This bill amends Section 25.1101 (a) of the Government Code to create County Court of Law No. 6 of Hidalgo County. This County Court at Law is to be created on the effective date of this Act which is September 1, 2005.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
In Section 2 (b), the committee substitute removes the words "other than cases and proceedings in which family violence is alleged". There are no other changes.