HBA-EDN H.B. 3663 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3663 By: Thompson Judicial Affairs 6/13/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Prior to the 77th Legislature, the jurisdiction of the fifteen statutory county criminal courts in Harris County was limited to Class A and Class B misdemeanors and appeals from the justice and municipal courts within the county. House Bill 3663 expands the courts' jurisdiction by permitting them to hear civil cases ancillary to their criminal jurisdiction. 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 3663 amends the Government Code to delete the provision limiting the jurisdiction of a county criminal court at law in Harris County to only criminal matters. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.