HBA-EDN H.B. 3663 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3663
By: Thompson
Judicial Affairs
4/10/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, the jurisdiction of the fifteen statutory county
criminal courts in Harris County is 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 while still
requiring that preference be given to criminal cases. 

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 require a Harris County
criminal court at law to give preference to criminal law matters and to
delete provisions limiting the courts' jurisdiction to only criminal
matters.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.