BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 734

By: Patrick, Diane

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, a magistrate in a county with a population of two million or more is  permitted to hear truancy cases. H.B. 734 allows the county judge of a county with a population of 1.4 million or more, with the consent of the commissioners court, to appoint a magistrate to hear truancy cases. The county judge retains final authority over the decision rendered by the magistrate. In addition, the bill allows a newly created truancy court in a county with a population of 1.4 million or more to have original jurisdiction over truancy 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. 734 amends the Government Code to lower from two million or more to 1.4 million or more the minimum population of a county in which a constitutional county court has the authority to appoint one or more part-time or full-time magistrates to hear truancy cases and has original jurisdiction over truancy cases. The bill makes conforming changes to the Education Code, the Family Code, and the Government Code.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.