80R7925 KLA-D
 
  By: Eiland H.B. No. 2766
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the location at which certain courts may conduct
proceedings following certain disasters.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 24, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 24.033 to read as follows:
       Sec. 24.033.  LOCATION OF PROCEEDINGS FOLLOWING CERTAIN
DISASTERS. (a) In this section, "first tier coastal county" and
"second tier coastal county" have the meanings assigned by Section
2210.003, Insurance Code.
       (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, if a natural or other
major disaster occurs in a first tier coastal county or a second
tier coastal county that precludes a district court from conducting
its proceedings at the county seat of that county, the presiding
judge of the administrative judicial region may designate an
alternate location in the judicial district at which the court may
conduct its proceedings.
       SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 25, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 25.0019 to read as follows:
       Sec. 25.0019.  LOCATION OF PROCEEDINGS FOLLOWING CERTAIN
DISASTERS. (a) In this section, "first tier coastal county" and
"second tier coastal county" have the meanings assigned by Section
2210.003, Insurance Code.
       (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, including a specific
provision in this chapter for a particular court or county that
requires a statutory county court to conduct its proceedings at the
county seat, if a natural or other major disaster occurs in a first
tier coastal county or a second tier coastal county that precludes a
statutory county court in that county from conducting its
proceedings at the county seat, the presiding judge of the
administrative judicial region may designate an alternate location
in the county at which the court may conduct its proceedings.
       SECTION 3.  Subchapter B, Chapter 25, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 25.0032 to read as follows:
       Sec. 25.0032.  LOCATION OF PROCEEDINGS FOLLOWING CERTAIN
DISASTERS. (a) In this section, "first tier coastal county" and
"second tier coastal county" have the meanings assigned by Section
2210.003, Insurance Code.
       (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, including a specific
provision in this chapter for a particular court or county that
requires a statutory probate court to conduct its proceedings at
the county seat, if a natural or other major disaster occurs in a
first tier coastal county or a second tier coastal county that
precludes a statutory probate court in that county from conducting
its proceedings at the county seat, the presiding judge of the
statutory probate courts may designate an alternate location in the
county at which the court may conduct its proceedings.
       SECTION 4.  Subchapter A, Chapter 26, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 26.009 to read as follows:
       Sec. 26.009.  LOCATION OF PROCEEDINGS FOLLOWING CERTAIN
DISASTERS. (a) In this section, "first tier coastal county" and
"second tier coastal county" have the meanings assigned by Section
2210.003, Insurance Code.
       (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, including Section
26.002(c), if a natural or other major disaster occurs in a first
tier coastal county or a second tier coastal county that precludes
the county court from conducting its proceedings at the county
seat, the presiding judge of the administrative judicial region may
designate an alternate location in the county at which the court may
conduct its proceedings.
       SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2007.