BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 11
87R3485 YDB-D	By: Huffman
	Jurisprudence
	3/9/2021
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The current intermediate courts of appeals system is not efficient from a judicial standpoint and causes confusion for litigants, attorneys, and district judges. Workload distribution among appellate districts is unbalanced, which leads to docket-equalization case transfers which are costly and confusing for litigants. Additionally, Texas has appellate courts of overlapping jurisdiction, which causes inconsistency and unpredictability within the state's jurisprudence.

S.B. 11 addresses these problems by restructuring the current courts of appeals to improve judicial efficiency, distribute workload more evenly across the state's 80 appellate justices, and improve consistency and predictability in the state's jurisprudence.

As proposed, S.B. 11 amends current law relating to the composition of the court of appeals districts.

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. Provides that the purpose of this Act is to make a statewide reapportionment of the court of appeals districts into which Texas is divided under Section 6, Article V, Texas Constitution.

SECTION 2. Amends Sections 22.201(f), (g), and (m), Government Code, as follows:

(f) Deletes Hunt County from the list of counties that constitute the Fifth Court of Appeals District.

(g) Deletes Gregg and Rusk Counties from the list of counties that constitute the Sixth Court of Appeals District.

(m) Deletes Upshur and Wood Counties from the list of counties that constitute the Twelfth Court of Appeals District.

SECTION 3. Provides that cases and other matters pending before a court of appeals from a county that is transferred by this Act to another court of appeals may be transferred as necessary to carry out the purpose of this Act and ensure the efficient administration of justice.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2021.