BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 3481

By: Thierry

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties contend that the district courts in Harris County need the ability to hold more than two terms in a year in order to help secure jurors willing to serve for the entirety of a term. C.S.H.B. 3481 seeks to address this need by providing for the district courts in Harris County to hold four terms each year.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

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

 

C.S.H.B. 3481 amends the Government Code to establish that in Harris County each district court holds terms that commence on the first Mondays in February, May, August, and November of each year.

 

C.S.H.B. 3481 repeals the following provisions of the Government Code:

·         Section 24.112(c)

·         Section 24.267(d)

·         Section 24.269(b)

·         Section 24.270(b)

·         Section 24.271(b)

·         Section 24.272(b)

·         Section 24.273(c)

·         Section 24.362(c)

·         Section 24.363(c)

·         Section 24.364(c)

·         Section 24.365(c)

·         Section 24.387(c)

·         Section 24.388(c)

·         Section 24.406(c)

·         Section 24.407(c)

·         Section 24.409(c)

·         Section 24.425(c)

·         Section 24.439(c)

·         Section 24.440(c)

·         Section 24.483(c)

·         Section 24.484(c)

·         Section 24.485(c)

·         Section 24.497(c)

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

January 1, 2018.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 3481 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

INTRODUCED

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1.  Section 24.012, Government Code, is amended.

SECTION 1.  Substantially same as introduced version.

No equivalent provision.

 

SECTION 2.  Section 24.602, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 24.602.  TERMS.  Except as provided by Section 24.012, the [The] terms of a family district court begin on the first Monday in January and the first Monday in July.

No equivalent provision.

 

SECTION 3.  Sections 24.112(c), 24.267(d), 24.269(b), 24.270(b), 24.271(b), 24.272(b), 24.273(c), 24.362(c), 24.363(c), 24.364(c), 24.365(c), 24.387(c), 24.388(c), 24.406(c), 24.407(c), 24.409(c), 24.425(c), 24.439(c), 24.440(c), 24.483(c), 24.484(c), 24.485(c), and 24.497(c), Government Code, are repealed.

SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2018.

SECTION 4. Same as introduced version.