BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

S.B. 1892

82R6112 YDB-D

By: Zaffirini

 

Jurisprudence

 

4/14/2011

 

As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The purpose of this legislation is to amend the Texas Government Code to include all current district courts of Bexar County.  Section 24.139, Government Code, entitled 37th Judicial District (Bexar County), contains provisions applicable to all district courts in Bexar County.  However, not all of the district courts are listed.

 

Currently, Section 24.139 lists the 37th, 45th, 57th, 73rd, 131st, 144th, 150th, 166th, 175th, 186th, 187th, 224th, 225th, 226th, 227th, 285th, 288th, 289th, and 290th district courts.

 

Section 24.139(d) lists the court with criminal justice preference as the 144th, 175th, 186th, 226th, 227th, and 290th district courts.

 

This bill will add the 279th, 386th, 399th, 407th, 408th, 436th, 437th, and 438th district courts to the Government Code.  These district courts already exist in Bexar County.

 

As proposed, S.B. 1892 amends current law relating to the Bexar County district courts.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Sections 24.139(b) and (d), Government Code, as follows:

 

(b)  Provides that this section applies to the 37th, 45th, 57th, 73rd, 131st, 144th, 150th, 166th, 175th, 186th, 187th, 224th, 225th, 226th, 227th, 285th, 288th, 289th, 290th, 379th, 386th, 399th, 407th, 408th, 436th, 437th, and 438th district courts in Bexar County.  Makes a nonsubstantive change.

 

(d)  Requires the 144th, 175th, 186th, 187th, 226th, 227th, 290th, 379th, 399th, and 437th district courts to give preference to criminal cases.  Makes a nonsubstantive change. 

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 24.524, Government Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 24.524.  379TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (BEXAR COUNTY).  (a)  Creates this subsection from existing text.  Provides that the 379th Judicial District is composed of Bexar County.

 

(b) Requires the 379th District Court to give preference to criminal matters.

 

SECTION 3.  Repealers: Sections 24.139(g) (relating to authorizing the district clerk to consolidate the minutes of the district courts) and (h) (relating to providing that all bonds taken for the appearance of defendants, parties, or witnesses in any district court are binding), Government Code.

 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 2011.