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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the location at which certain courts may conduct |
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proceedings following certain disasters. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 24, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 24.033 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 24.033. LOCATION OF PROCEEDINGS FOLLOWING CERTAIN |
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DISASTERS. (a) In this section, "first tier coastal county" and |
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"second tier coastal county" have the meanings assigned by Section |
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2210.003, Insurance Code. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other law, if a natural or other |
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major disaster occurs in a first tier coastal county or a second |
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tier coastal county that precludes a district court from conducting |
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its proceedings at the county seat of that county, the presiding |
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judge of the administrative judicial region may designate an |
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alternate location in the judicial district at which the court may |
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conduct its proceedings. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 25, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 25.0019 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 25.0019. LOCATION OF PROCEEDINGS FOLLOWING CERTAIN |
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DISASTERS. (a) In this section, "first tier coastal county" and |
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"second tier coastal county" have the meanings assigned by Section |
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2210.003, Insurance Code. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other law, including a specific |
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provision in this chapter for a particular court or county that |
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requires a statutory county court to conduct its proceedings at the |
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county seat, if a natural or other major disaster occurs in a first |
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tier coastal county or a second tier coastal county that precludes a |
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statutory county court in that county from conducting its |
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proceedings at the county seat, the presiding judge of the |
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administrative judicial region may designate an alternate location |
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in the county at which the court may conduct its proceedings. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 25, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 25.0032 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 25.0032. LOCATION OF PROCEEDINGS FOLLOWING CERTAIN |
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DISASTERS. (a) In this section, "first tier coastal county" and |
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"second tier coastal county" have the meanings assigned by Section |
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2210.003, Insurance Code. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other law, including a specific |
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provision in this chapter for a particular court or county that |
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requires a statutory probate court to conduct its proceedings at |
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the county seat, if a natural or other major disaster occurs in a |
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first tier coastal county or a second tier coastal county that |
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precludes a statutory probate court in that county from conducting |
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its proceedings at the county seat, the presiding judge of the |
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statutory probate courts may designate an alternate location in the |
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county at which the court may conduct its proceedings. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter A, Chapter 26, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 26.009 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 26.009. LOCATION OF PROCEEDINGS FOLLOWING CERTAIN |
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DISASTERS. (a) In this section, "first tier coastal county" and |
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"second tier coastal county" have the meanings assigned by Section |
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2210.003, Insurance Code. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other law, including Section |
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26.002(c), if a natural or other major disaster occurs in a first |
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tier coastal county or a second tier coastal county that precludes |
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the county court from conducting its proceedings at the county |
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seat, the presiding judge of the administrative judicial region may |
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designate an alternate location in the county at which the court may |
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conduct its proceedings. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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