By:  Lucio                                                        S.B. No. 1620


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the composition of the judicial districts in Cameron 
and Willacy Counties.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 24.205, Government Code, is amended to 
read as follows:  
	Sec. 24.205.  103rd JUDICIAL DISTRICT (CAMERON COUNTY [AND 
WILLACY COUNTIES]).  (a)  The 103rd Judicial District is composed 
of Cameron County [and Willacy counties].  The court shall give 
preference to civil cases.
	(b)  The 103rd, 107th, and 138th district courts have 
concurrent jurisdiction.
	(c)  The terms of the 103rd District Court begin[:            
		[(1)  in Cameron County] on the first Mondays in 
February and July[; and
		[(2)  in Willacy County on the first Mondays in January 
and June].
	(d)  The judges of the 103rd and 107th district courts need 
not impanel grand juries except in cases of emergency.
	SECTION 2.  Section 24.209, Government Code, is amended to 
read as follows:  
	Sec. 24.209.  107th JUDICIAL DISTRICT (CAMERON COUNTY [AND 
WILLACY COUNTIES]).  (a)  The 107th Judicial District is composed 
of Cameron County [and Willacy counties].  The court shall give 
preference to criminal cases.
	(b)  The terms of the 107th District Court begin on the first 
Mondays in January and July.
	(c)  Section 24.205, relating to the 103rd District Court, 
contains provisions applicable to both that court and the 107th 
District Court.
	SECTION 3.  Section 24.240, Government Code, is amended to 
read as follows:  
	Sec. 24.240.  138th JUDICIAL DISTRICT (CAMERON COUNTY [AND 
WILLACY COUNTIES]).  (a)  The 138th Judicial District is composed 
of Cameron County [and Willacy counties].  The court shall give 
preference to criminal cases.
	(b)  The terms of the 138th District Court begin[:            
		[(1)  in Cameron County] on the first Mondays in March, 
July, and November[; and
		[(2)  in Willacy County on the first Mondays in 
January, May, and September].
	(c)  The judge of the 138th District Court shall impanel 
grand juries at all times required by law.
	(d)  Section 24.205, relating to the 103rd District Court, 
contains provisions applicable to both that court and the 138th 
District Court.
	SECTION 4.  Section 24.503, Government Code, is amended to 
read as follows:  
	Sec. 24.503.  357th JUDICIAL DISTRICT (CAMERON COUNTY [AND 
WILLACY COUNTIES]).  The 357th Judicial District is composed of 
Cameron County [and Willacy counties].
	SECTION 5.  Section 24.549, Government Code, is amended to 
read as follows:  
	Sec. 24.549.  404th JUDICIAL DISTRICT (CAMERON COUNTY [AND 
WILLACY COUNTIES]).  The 404th Judicial District is composed of 
Cameron County [and Willacy counties].
	SECTION 6.  (a)  The local administrative district judge 
shall transfer all cases from Willacy County that are pending in the 
103rd, 107th, 138th, 357th, and 404th district courts on September 
1, 2005, to the 197th District Court.
	(b)  When a case is transferred as provided by Subsection (a) 
of this section, all processes, writs, bonds, recognizances, or 
other obligations issued from the 103rd, 107th, 138th, 357th, and 
404th district courts are returnable to the 197th District Court as 
if originally issued by that court.  The obligees on all bonds and 
recognizances taken in and for the 103rd, 107th, 138th, 357th, and 
404th district courts and all witnesses summoned to appear in those 
courts are required to appear before the 197th District Court as if 
originally required to appear before that court.
	SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.