BILL ANALYSIS
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Senate Research Center |
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AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, each district court, in each county in the 47th judicial district, is required to hold terms that begin on the first Mondays in January and July of each year. However, interested parties suggest that, given the sparse population of Armstrong County and the low rate of felony charges filed in that county, it would be more cost-effective and efficient to set the term of the district court in that county on an annual basis, rather than on a biannual basis, so that only one grand jury needs to be empanelled over the course of the year. H.B. 3378 addresses this issue by providing for an annual term of court for the 47th District Court in Armstrong County.
H.B. 3378 amends current law relating to an annual term for the 47th District Court.
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 Section 24.012, Government Code, by amending Subsection (a), and adding Subsection (a-1), as follows:
(a) Provides that, except as provided by Subsection (a-1), notwithstanding any other law, each district court holds in each county in the judicial district terms that commence on the first Mondays in January and July of each year.
(a-1) Provides that the term of the 47th District Court in Armstrong County begins on the first Monday in January.
SECTION 2. Repealer: Section 24.149(c) (relating to when certain terms of the 47th District Court begin), Government Code.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2013.