HBA-CBW, EDN H.B. 1041 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1041
By: Smith
Judicial Affairs
3/9/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, County Criminal Court No. 5 of Tarrant County is the only court
in the county with jurisdiction over Class C misdemeanor appeals from
municipal and justice courts.  The growing volume and complexity of family
law cases filed in County Criminal Court no.5 have resulted in Class C
misdemeanor appeals being heard only one day a week. The inability of the
court to hear a sufficient number of these cases has created a significant
backlog.  Adding a new county criminal court in Tarrant County will reduce
the backlog and may help expedite the hearing of cases. House Bill 1041
expands the jurisdiction of County Criminal Court No.10 of Tarrant County
to include Class C misdemeanor appeals. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1041 amends the Government Code to provide that the County
Criminal Court No.10 of Tarrant County has concurrent jurisdiction within
the county of all appeals from criminal convictions under the laws of this
state and the municipal ordinances of the municipalities located in Tarrant
County that are appealed from the justice courts and municipal courts in
the county.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.