BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 2230
By: Averitt
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
District court judges say that offenders with both misdemeanor and felony charges frequently come before them and that it would more efficient if they could hear the misdemeanor and felony charges at the same time.
S.B. 2230 amends current law relating to the jurisdiction and operation of the district courts in McLennan County.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 24.120, Government Code, by amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection (b-1), as follows:
(b) Provides that the 19th, 54th, 74th, 170th, and 414th district courts have concurrent jurisdiction in McLennan County. Makes a nonsubstantive change.
(b-1) Provides that the 19th District Court has concurrent jurisdiction with the county court and the statutory county courts of McLennan County in misdemeanor cases as well as the jurisdiction prescribed by general law for district courts.
(c) Provides that the terms of the 19th District Court begin on the first, rather than the second, Mondays in January, March, May, July, September, and November.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 24.156, Government Code, by adding Subsection (a-1) to provide that the 54th District Court has concurrent jurisdiction with the county court and the statutory county courts of McLennan County in misdemeanor cases as well as the jurisdiction prescribed by general law for districts courts.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 24.176, Government Code, by adding Subsection (a-1), to provide that the 74th District Court has concurrent jurisdiction with the county court and the statutory county courts of McLennan County in misdemeanor cases as well as the jurisdiction prescribed by general law for district courts.
SECTION 4. Amends Section 24.265, Government Code, by adding Subsection (a-1) to provide that the 170th District Court has concurrent jurisdiction with the county court and the statutory county courts of McLennan County in misdemeanor cases as well as the jurisdiction prescribed by general law for district courts.
SECTION 5. Amends Section 24.558, Government Code, as follows:
Sec. 24.558. 414TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (MCLENNAN COUNTY). (a) Creates this subsection from existing text.
(b) Provides that the 414th District Court has concurrent jurisdiction with the county court and the statutory county courts of McLennan County in misdemeanor cases as well as the jurisdiction prescribed by general law for district courts.
(c) Provides that the terms of the 414th District Court begin on the first Mondays in January, March, May, July, September, and November.
(d) Provides that Section 24.120, relating to the 19th District Court, contains provisions applicable to both that court and the 414th District Court.
SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 2009.