H.B. No. 2766

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 disaster, as defined by Section 418.004, 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, with the approval of the judge of the affected district court, 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 disaster, as defined by Section 418.004, 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, with the approval of the judge of the affected statutory county court, 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 disaster, as defined by Section 418.004, 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, with the approval of the judge of the affected statutory probate court, 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 disaster, as defined by Section 418.004, 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, with the approval of the judge of the affected county court, 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.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2766 was passed by the House on April 13, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, 2 present, not voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2766 on May 23, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 3 present, not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2766 was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 18, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________

Date

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Governor