BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 692

By: Solomons

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

When compared to other criminal offenses, state jail felony offenses and punishments have more in common with misdemeanor offenses than third to first degree felony offenses. State jail felonies make up much of a district court's docket.  For example, state jail felonies account for 40 percent of the docket in Harris County.  In order to alleviate the overcrowded district court dockets, statutory county courts could be given concurrent jurisdiction over state jail felonies. Concurrent jurisdiction would enable faster resolution of cases pending in judicial districts encompassing multiple districts.

H.B. 692 grants concurrent jurisdiction over state jail felonies to statutory county courts with jurisdiction over misdemeanor cases.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 692 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Government Code to establish that a statutory county court exercising original or concurrent jurisdiction over any type of misdemeanor case has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in state jail felony cases in addition to other jurisdiction provided by law. The bill establishes that this Government Code provision prevails over any other law regarding the jurisdiction of statutory county courts.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.