HBA-BSM H.B. 3671 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3671
By: Denny
Judicial Affairs
7/26/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 77th Legislature, the Town of Trophy Club did not have a
municipal court of record.  Texas law, absent of a local statute providing
for a municipal court of record,  required appeals for a municipal court to
be done by a new trial.  A local statute providing for a municipal court of
record, however, would require the appeal to be based on the recording
errors made during the trial in lieu of a new trial.   House Bill 3671
authorizes the Town of Trophy Club to create a municipal court of record
and designates Denton County courts at law that have criminal appellate
jurisdiction as appellate courts. 

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 3671 amends the Government Code to provide that the county
courts at law of Denton County that have criminal appellate jurisdiction
are defined as "appellate courts."  The bill applies to the Town of Trophy
Club located in Denton and Tarrant counties. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

June 14, 2001.