BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1329
85R8160 SRS-D	By: Huffman
	State Affairs
	3/24/2017
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The State of Texas is experiencing both an increase in population and a shift in where the majority of the residents live. As the state's population grows in some areas while declining in others, the judicial needs of the various regions change. These shifting demographics can significantly impact the caseload of the existing courts. Historically, the Texas Legislature has compensated for changes in population by establishing new courts or changing existing judicial boundaries. Several factors are analyzed in the evaluation process, including increased caseloads, case backlogs, substantial population growth, and county support. In order to ensure that the creation of new courts and the modification of judicial jurisdictions is conducted in an orderly manner, S.B. 1329 consolidates these changes into a single omnibus bill.

As proposed, S.B. 1329 amends current law relating to the operation and administration of and practice in courts in the judicial branch of state government.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

ARTICLE 1. JURISDICTION OF ASSOCIATE JUDGES

SECTION 1.01. Amends Section 101.034, Family Code, as effective until September 1, 2018, to redefine �Title IV-D case.�

SECTION 1.02. Amends Section 101.034, Family Code, as effective on September 1, 2018, to redefine �Title IV-D case.�

SECTION 1.03. (a) Amends Sections 201.007(a) and (c), Family Code, as follows:

(a) Authorizes an associate judge, except as limited by an order of referral, to, among certain other actions, render and sign certain orders without prejudice to the right to a de novo hearing before the referring court under Section 201.015 (De Novo Hearing Before Referring Court), rather than without prejudice to the right of appeal under Section 201.015; and render and sign a final order that includes a waiver of the right to a de novo hearing before the referring court under Section 201.015, rather than a waiver of the right of appeal pursuant to Section 201.015.

(c) Provides that an order described by Subsection (a)(14) or (16) that is rendered and signed by an associate judge constitutes an order of the referring court.

(b) Amends Section 201.013(b), Family Code, as follows:

(b) Provides that, except as provided by Section 201.007(c) (relating to a certain order that is rendered and signed by an associate judge), if a request for a de novo hearing before the referring court is not timely filed, rather than if a request for a de novo hearing before the referring court is not timely filed or the right to a de novo hearing before the referring court is waived, the proposed order or judgment of the associate judge becomes the order or judgment of the referring court only on the referring court�s signing the proposed order or judgment.

(c) Amends Section 201.014(a), Family Code, to create an exception as otherwise provided in this subchapter (Associate Judge).

(d) Amends Section 201.016(c), Family Code, as follows:

(c) Provides that the date an agreed order, a default order, or a final order that includes a waiver of the right to a de novo hearing before the referring court under Section 201.015 is signed by an associate judge is the controlling date for the purpose of an appeal to, or a request for other relief relating to the order from, a court of appeals or the Texas Supreme Court. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

(e) Provides that the changes in law made by this section apply to a final order signed by an associate judge before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 1.04. Amends Section 201.204, Family Code, by adding Subsection (d), to authorize an associate judge to hear and render an order in a suit for the adoption of a child for whom the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has been named managing conservator.

ARTICLE 2. DISTRICT COURTS

SECTION 2.01. (a) Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, by adding Section 24.6002, as follows:

Sec. 24.6002. 458TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (FORT BEND COUNTY). Provides that the 458th Judicial District is composed of Fort Bend County.

(b) Provides that the 458th Judicial District is created on the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 2.02. (a) Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, by adding Sections 24.6003 and 24.6004, as follows:

Sec. 24.6003. 459TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (TRAVIS COUNTY). (a) Provides that the 459th Judicial District is composed of Travis County.

(b) Requires the 459th District Court to give preference to civil matters.

Sec. 24.6004. 460TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (TRAVIS COUNTY). (a) Provides that the 460th Judicial District is composed of Travis County.

(b) Requires the 460th District Court to give preference to criminal matters.

(b) Provides that the 459th Judicial District is created on October 1, 2017.

SECTION 2.03. (a) Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, by adding Section 24.6006, as follows:

Sec. 24.6006. 462ND JUDICIAL DISTRICT (DENTON COUNTY). Provides that the 462nd Judicial District is composed of Denton County.

(b) Provides that the 462nd Judicial District is created on January 1, 2019.

ARTICLE 3. STATUTORY COUNTY COURTS

SECTION 3.01. Amends Section 25.0634, Government Code, by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c), as follows:

(b) Creates an exception under Subsection (c).

SECTION 3.02. (a) Amends Section 25.0811, Government Code, to include County Court at Law No. 6 of Fort Bend County in the list of statutory county courts in Fort Bend County.

(b) Provides that the County Court at Law No. 6 of Fort Bend County is created on the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3.03. (a) Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 25, Government Code, by adding Sections 25.0951 and 25.0952, as follows:

Sec. 25.0951. GRIMES COUNTY. Provides that Grimes County has one statutory county court, the County Court at Law of Grimes County.

Sec. 25.0952. GRIMES COUNTY COURT AT LAW PROVISIONS. (a) Provides that, in addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section 25.0003 (Jurisdiction) and other law, a county court at law in Grimes County has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in family law cases and proceedings.

(b) Requires the judge of the county court at law to be paid an annual salary set by the commissioners court in an amount that is at least equal to the amount that is $1,000 less than the total annual salary, including contributions and supplements, received by a district judge in the county. Requires the salary to be paid by the county treasurer by order of the commissioners court.

(c) Provides that the judge of the county court at law is entitled to travel expenses and necessary office expenses, including administrative and clerical assistance, in the same manner as the district judge.

(d) Prohibits the judge of a county court at law from engaging in the private practice of law.

(e) Provides that the district clerk serves as clerk of a county court at law for family cases and proceedings, and the county clerk serves as clerk for all other cases. Authorizes the commissioners court to employ as many deputy sheriffs and bailiffs as are necessary to serve the court.

(f) Requires a jury to be composed of 12 members, if a case or proceeding in which a county court at law has concurrent jurisdiction with a district court is tried before the jury. Requires, in all other cases, that the jury is composed of six members.

(g) Authorizes the judge of a county court at law to, instead of appointing an official court reporter, contract for the services of a court reporter under guidelines established by the commissioners court.

(h) Provides that the laws governing the drawing, selection, service, and pay of jurors for county courts apply to a county court at law. Authorizes jurors regularly impaneled for a week by the district court to, on request of a judge of the county court at law, be made available and requires the jurors to serve for the week in a county court at law.�

(i) Provides that a county court at law has the same terms of court as a district court in Grimes County.

(b) Provides that the County Court at Law of Grimes County is created on the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3.04. (a) Amends Section 25.1071, Government Code, to include the County Court at Law No. 3 of Hays County in the list of statutory county courts in Hays County.

(b) Provides that the County Court at Law No. 3 of Hays County is created on October 1, 2018.

SECTION 3.05. (a) Amends Section 25.1101(a), Government Code, to include County Court at Law No. 9 of Hidalgo County in the list of statutory county courts in Hidalgo County.

(b) Provides that the County Court at Law No. 9 of Hidalgo County is created on the effective date of this Act.

ARTICLE 4. JUDICIAL OATHS

SECTION 4.01. Amends Chapter 602, Government Code, by adding Section 602.007, as follows:

Sec. 602.007. FILING OF OATH MADE BY CERTAIN JUDICIAL OFFICERS AND JUDICIAL APPOINTEES. Requires the oath made and signed statement executed as required by Section 1 (Official Oath), Article XVI (General Provisions), Texas Constitution, by certain judicial officers and appointees to be filed with the secretary of state.

ARTICLE 5. EFFECTIVE DATE

SECTION 5.01. Effective date: September 1, 2017.