BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3481
85R16413 DMS-F	By: Thierry (Huffman)
	State Affairs
	5/10/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

District courts in Harris County need the ability to hold more than two terms per year in order to secure jurors willing to serve for the entirety of a term. H.B. 3481 allows for the district courts in Harris County to hold four terms each year.

H.B. 3481 amends current law relating to the terms of district courts in Harris County.

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-2), as follows:

(a) Provides that, except as provided by Subsections (a-1) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 47th District Court in Armstrong County) and (a-2), rather than 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 certain dates.

(a-2) Provides that in Harris County each district court holds terms that commence on the first Mondays in February, May, August, and November of each year.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 24.602, Government Code, to create an exception to the beginning date of terms for a family district court under Section 24.012 (Terms and Sessions of Court).

SECTION 3. Repealers: Sections 24.112(c) (relating to the beginning of terms for the district courts in the 11th Judicial District), 24.267(d) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 174th District Court), 24.269(b) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 176th District Court), 24.270(b) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 177th District Court), 24.271(b) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 178th District Court), 24.272(b) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 179th District Court), 24.273(c) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 180th District Court), 24.362(c) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 182nd District Court), 24.363(c) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 183rd District Court), 24.364(c) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 184th District Court), 24.365(c) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 185th District Court), 24.387(c) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 208th District Court), 24.388(c) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 209th District Court), 24.406(c) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 228th District Court), 24.407(c) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 230th District Court), 24.409(c) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 232nd District Court), 24.425(c) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 248th District Court), 24.439(c) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 262nd District Court), 24.440(c) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 263rd District Court), 24.483(c) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 337th District Court), 24.484(c) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 338th District Court), 24.485(c) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 339th District Court), and 24.497(c) (relating to the beginning of terms for the 351st District Court), Government Code.

SECTION 4. Effective date: January 1, 2018.