HBA-JLV H.B. 2788 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2788
By: Solomons
Judicial Affairs
3/26/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law governing suits affecting the parent-child relationship
provides that there is a district court of continuing jurisdiction.  When a
new court is established, cases are often transferred to that court from
other district courts.  House Bill 2788 clarifies current law to provide
that a new district court to which cases are transferred has continuing
exclusive jurisdiction in any case sent to the new court, including suits
affecting the parent-child relationship. 

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 2788 amends the Government Code to authorize, on the creation of
an additional district court in a county, an existing district court in the
county to transfer to the new court a case regarding a child who is subject
to the continuing exclusive jurisdiction of the existing court, regardless
of whether the case is pending in the existing court or the existing court
rendered a final order in the case.  The bill provides that the district
court to which the case is transferred, acquires continuing exclusive
jurisdiction over the child. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.