BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                      S.B. 1951

80R11339 CAE-D                                                                                                     By: Wentworth

Jurisprudence

4/5/2007

As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently, the courts of Montgomery County and Cameron County are experiencing an increase in cases.  The establishment of new judicial districts in these counties may help alleviate the burden created by the backlogs on those courts.

As proposed, S.B. 1951 creates new judicial districts in Montgomery and Cameron counties. 

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.  (a)  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, by adding Section 24.562, as follows:

Sec. 24.562.  418TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (MONTGOMERY COUNTY).  (a)  Provides that the 418th Judicial District is composed of Montgomery County.

(b)  Requires the 418th District Court to give preference to family law matters.

(b)  Creates the 418th Judicial District on the effective date of this section. 

SECTION 2.  (a)  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, by adding Section 24.579, as follows:

Sec. 24.579.  435TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (MONTGOMERY COUNTY).  (a)  Provides that the 435th Judicial District is composed of Montgomery County.

(b)  Requires the 435th District Court to give preference to civil commitment proceedings under Chapter 841 (Civil Commitment of Sexually Violent Predators), Health and Safety Code, and criminal cases involving offenses under Section 841.085 (Criminal Penalty), Health and Safety Code, and Article 62.203 (Failure to Comply; Subject to Commitment), Code of Criminal Procedure.  

(c)  Requires the state to pay the salaries of and other expenses related to the court reporter appointed for the 435th District Court under Section 52.041 (Appointment of Official Court Reporters) and the court coordinator appointed for the court under Section 74.101 (Court Coordinators), Government Code.  Requires the salaries of the court reporter and court coordinator to be set in amounts commensurate with the salaries paid by other district courts for those positions. 

(b)  Creates the 435th Judicial District on the effective date of this section.

SECTION 3.  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, by adding Section 24.588, as follows:

Sec. 24.588.  444TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (CAMERON COUNTY).  (a)  Provides that the 444th Judicial District is composed of Cameron County.

(b)  Requires the 444th District Court to give preference to family law matters.

(b)  Creates the 444th Judicial District on the effective date of this section. 

SECTION 4.  (a)  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, by adding Section 24.589, as follows:

Sec. 24.589.  445TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (CAMERON COUNTY).  (a)  Provides that the 445th Judicial District is composed of Cameron County.

(b)  Requires the 445th District Court to give preference to criminal law cases.

(b)  Creates the 445th Judicial District on the effective date of this section. 

SECTION 5.  Effective date: September 1, 2007.