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


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1979
By: Chavez
Judicial Affairs
3/9/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The current 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.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

January 1, 2002.