PDH S.B. 612 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 612
By: Ogden
Judicial Affairs
4/6/1999
Engrossed


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Williamson County has two county courts at law, the second of
which was created in 1989.  Since then, the county's population has
increased by 50 percent, the number of cases filed has increased by 68
percent, and the number of cases pending has increased by 92 percent.
Additionally, an Austin Transportation Study predicts that Williamson
County's population will increase by nearly 400 percent over the next 25
years.   

S.B. 612 creates another statutory county court in Williamson County, for
which the commissioners court has designated $800,000 to help fund. 

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 25.2481, Government Code, to create County Court
at Law No. 3 in Williamson County.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 1999.
  
SECTION 3.Emergency clause.