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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to proceedings held in auxiliary facilities outside |
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certain county seats. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 24.430, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) Section 24.490, relating to the 344th District Court, |
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contains provisions applicable to both that court and the 253rd |
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District Court in Chambers County. |
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SECTION 2. Section 24.490, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (d), (e), and (f) to read as follows: |
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(d) Notwithstanding Section 24.030, a district court in |
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Chambers County may sit in a suitable facility outside the county |
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seat if the facility is designated by the commissioners court as an |
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auxiliary county seat, as provided by Section 292.031, Local |
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Government Code. |
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(e) A district court in Chambers County sitting in an |
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auxiliary court facility designated by the commissioners court as |
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an auxiliary county seat may hear, in all case types, the motions, |
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arguments, nonjury trials and jury trials, and any other matters |
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before the court within the court's jurisdiction. |
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(f) The district clerk or the clerk's deputy serves as clerk |
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of the court when a district court sits in a facility designated as |
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an auxiliary county seat and may keep all necessary books, minutes, |
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records, and papers at the facility. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 292, Local Government |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 292.031 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 292.031. FACILITIES OUTSIDE COUNTY SEAT IN CERTAIN |
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COUNTIES. (a) This section applies only to a county with a |
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population of less than 40,000 that is adjacent to a county with a |
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population of more than 3.3 million. |
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(b) The commissioners court of a county may provide an |
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auxiliary court facility, office building, or jail facility at a |
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location in the county and within 10 miles of the boundaries of the |
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county seat in the same manner that is applicable to a court, |
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building, or facility at the county seat. The commissioners court |
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may provide for the building or facility through the issuance of |
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bonds or other evidences of indebtedness as provided under Section |
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292.002 and may provide office space in the building or facility for |
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any county or precinct office. |
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(c) The auxiliary court facility may be used for the holding |
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of court proceedings, including district court proceedings. For |
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the purpose of the court proceedings, the commissioners court may |
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designate the location of the auxiliary court as an auxiliary |
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county seat. |
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(d) The records of a county officer who is provided space at |
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a court facility, building, or other facility under this section |
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may be kept at the building or facility. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |