HBA-EDN, KDB H.B. 1979 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1979
By: Chavez
Judicial Affairs
7/10/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The backlog of pending misdemeanor cases in El Paso County may result in
cases not being adjudicated in a timely basis, which may cause delays in
sentencing and may increase the chances that individuals released on bail
may commit similar offenses.  House Bill 1979 creates County Criminal Court
at Law No. 1 of El Paso County and County Criminal Court at Law  No. 2 of
El Paso County to help reduce the current backlog of cases in El Paso
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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1979 amends the Government Code to create County Criminal Court
at Law No. 1 of El Paso County and County Criminal Court at Law No. 2 of El
Paso County.  The bill sets forth the jurisdiction of the courts and
provides for the transfer of cases among the courts in El Paso County.  The
bill authorizes a judge of a statutory county court in El Paso County and a
judge of a district court in El Paso County to exchange benches and sit and
act for each other in any matter pending before the court.  Provisions
relating to the transfer of cases in matters of concurrent jurisdiction and
to the exchange of benches between judges do not apply to a county criminal
court at law in El Paso County.    

EFFECTIVE DATE

January 1, 2002.