By: Eiland (Senate Sponsor - Janek) H.B. No. 2766

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 16, 2007; April 17, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Jurisprudence; May 10, 2007, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 10, 2007, sent to printer.)

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.

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