BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3929

By: Ashby

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, the 12th Judicial District is composed of Grimes, Leon, Madison, and Walker Counties, and the 369th Judicial District is composed of Anderson and Cherokee Counties. Interested parties contend that the caseload of the large counties in the 12th Judicial District has become too heavy for that district and that the citizens of the 12th and 369th Judicial Districts would be better served if Leon County was moved from the 12th to the 369th Judicial District. H.B. 3929 seeks to provide for such a change.

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. 3929 amends the Government Code to remove Leon County from the jurisdiction of the 12th Judicial District and to add that county to the jurisdiction of the 369th Judicial District. The bill requires the local administrative district judge to transfer all cases from Leon County that are pending in the 12th District Court on September 1, 2013, to the 369th District Court and sets out procedural provisions relating to such a transfer. The bill establishes that the person serving as district attorney for the 12th Judicial District on September 1, 2013, unless otherwise removed from office, continues to serve in that office as redesignated as the district attorney for the 369th Judicial District for the term to which elected or appointed.

H.B. 3929 reenacts Section 152.1511(a), Human Resources Code, as amended by Chapters 531 (H.B. 956), 1152 (H.B. 3045), and 1352 (S.B. 1189), Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, relating to the composition of the juvenile board of Leon County.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.