BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3378

By: Price

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law states that each district court holds in each county in the judicial district 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 being 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.

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. 3378 amends the Government Code to create an exception to the statutory provision establishing that 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 by establishing that the term of the 47th District Court in Armstrong County begins on the first Monday in January.

H.B. 3378 repeals Section 24.149(c), Government Code.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.