BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4147

By: Kacal

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that clarity in state law is needed to ensure that the county court in a county that does not have certain courts has jurisdiction of any appeal from a judgment or conviction in a municipal court of record located in that county so that parties always have a forum in which to appeal such judgments and convictions. H.B. 4147 seeks to provide this clarification.  

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

H.B. 4147 amends the Government Code to clarify that a county court has jurisdiction of any appeal from a judgment or conviction in a municipal court of record located in that county if the county does not have a county criminal court, county criminal court of appeal, municipal court of appeal, or county court at law.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.