BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3642
	By: Krause (Powell)
	State Affairs
	5/16/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

It has been noted that certain statutory county courts in Tarrant County lack jurisdiction over criminal proceedings. H.B. 3642 seeks to amend the law relating to the jurisdiction of county courts at law in Tarrant County.

H.B. 3642 amends current law relating to the jurisdiction of county courts at law in Tarrant 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 25.2222(a), Government Code, as follows:

(a) Provides that a county court at law in Tarrant County has jurisdiction over all causes and proceedings, civil and criminal, original and appellate, prescribed by law for county courts but requires the court to give preference to civil cases, rather than providing that a county court at law in Tarrant County has jurisdiction over all civil matters and causes, original and appellate, prescribed by law for county courts. Deletes existing text providing that the County Court at Law No. 1 of Tarrant County also has jurisdiction over all criminal matters and causes, original and appellate, prescribed by law for county courts and that the County Courts at Law Nos. 2 and 3 of Tarrant County do not have criminal jurisdiction.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2019.

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