HBA-KMH H.B. 3828 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3828
By: Counts
Judicial Affairs
4/26/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The 50th Judicial District is composed of Baylor, Cottle, King, and Knox
counties.  Currently, county judges in the 50th Judicial District can try
misdemeanor cases, but can only accept guilty pleas.  H.B. 3828 restricts
the additional jurisdiction granted the district court in Baylor, Cottle,
King, and Knox counties to the civil jurisdiction of a county court.  This
bill also grants general criminal jurisdiction to the County Court of Knox
County. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 24.152(b), Government Code, to provide that the
district court in Baylor, Cottle, King, and Knox counties has the civil
jurisdiction of a county court in addition to other jurisdiction provided
by law, rather than the civil and criminal jurisdiction of a county court
except for the jurisdiction each county court retains to receive and enter
guilty pleas in misdemeanor cases 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 26.238, Government Code, to grant general
criminal jurisdiction to the County Court of Knox County.  Makes a
conforming change. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.