Amend CSSB 497 by adding the following appropriately numbered 
SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS 
accordingly:
	SECTION ____.  Subchapter A, Chapter 24, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 24.023 to read as follows:
	Sec. 24.023.  DISTRICT COURT AGREEMENT WITH CERTAIN 
CONSTITUTIONAL COUNTY COURTS.  (a)  A district court judge and a 
county court judge may enter into a written agreement granting the 
county court authority to hear the following matters, provided that 
the district court has jurisdiction of the matter:
		(1)  guilty pleas in felony cases;                                     
		(2)  default judgments;                                                
		(3)  uncontested civil cases in which a final judgment 
will be entered;
		(4)  uncontested family law cases in which a final 
judgment will be entered; and
		(5)  civil and family law cases in which an agreed final 
judgment will be entered.
	(b)  Subsection (a) applies only to a county:                           
		(1)  that has two or more district courts each of which 
is composed of more than one county;
		(2)  that does not have a county court at law; and                     
		(3)  in which the county court retains original 
misdemeanor jurisdiction, and the county court judge is granted 
authority to consider those cases under the constitution or general 
law.
	(c)  A county court judge who enters into an agreement under 
Subsection (a) must be an attorney who is licensed to practice law 
in this state and who meets the qualifications for holding the 
office of district court judge.
	(d)  An agreement between a district court judge and a county 
court judge under this section may provide that final judgments 
must be approved by the district court judge.
	(e)  A county court judge has the same judicial immunity as 
the district court judge when presiding over cases as authorized by 
this section.
	(f)  All pleadings, documents, records, and other papers 
remain under the control of the district clerk.  The district clerk 
may establish a separate docket for the cases considered by the 
county court judge.