BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1872

By: Leibowitz

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The constitutional limit of a single county court for each of the state's 254 counties created a need for additional county courts in the more populous counties.  Consequently, the legislature has created additional statutory county courts at law in the larger counties to aid the single constitutional county court in its judicial functions.  Given the rapid growth in Bexar County, the current number of courts is inadequate to manage the growth in caseloads. 

H.B. 1872 creates three additional judicial districts in Bexar County, establishes each district's creation date, and sets forth the matters over which each district is required to give preference. 

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. 1872 amends the Government Code to create the 432nd, 436th, and 437th Judicial Districts in Bexar County .  The bill requires the 432nd District Court to give preference to civil matters, the 436th District Court to give preference to criminal matters, and the 437th District Court to give preference to juvenile matters.  The bill establishes that the 437th Judicial District is created on October 1, 2009, the 436th Judicial District is created on January 1, 2010, and the 432nd Judicial District is created on September 1, 2010.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.