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3 Document(s) [ Subject: Court%20records ]

Committee: House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence
Title: Interim Report
Subjects: Coronavirus | Court records | Criminal justice | Guardianship | Highway construction | Juries | Jurisdiction (Legal) | Sex crimes | Sexual harassment | Statutes of limitation | Wills and estates |
Library Call Number: L1836.86 J898
Session: 86th R.S. (2019)
Online version: View report [79 pages  File size: 5,349 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 86th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
  • HB 2899, which specifies that highway construction contractors are not liable for design defects. Investigate whether expansion of those policies to other areas of public/private contracting is in the best interest of the state.
  • HB 3809, which raises the statute of limitations for suit for injuries from a sexual assault of a child from 15 years to 30 years. Study and deliberate ways to enhance protections for victims of sexual abuse. Review other Texas laws relating to reporting and investigating incidents of workplace sexual harassment. Make recommendations to remove barriers to reporting and investigating incidents of sexual harassment and to make improvements to existing policies where necessary.
  • HB 4531, which authorizes adults under guardianship to consent to forensic medical examination protocols. Monitor the impact of the legislation on the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of sexual assault, and study the impact on other related offenses and the treatment and services provided to victims of those offenses.
  • SB 2342, which increases the amount in controversy for certain courts and expedited proceedings and makes reforms to jury requirements in order to improve access to courts. Review the impact of the legislation on the administration of justice and access to courts for Texas citizens
2. Study opportunities to modernize and improve local and statewide data collection throughout the criminal justice system in Texas, including improving the collection and reporting of court records, to promote transparency and ensure uniform data collection processes.
3. Study the Rule Against Perpetuities as used by trusts. Examine whether statutory changes are necessary and appropriate to make Texas more competitive and keep trust capital and estate planning business in Texas.
4. Monitor the State Auditor's review of agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction. The Chair shall seek input and periodic briefings on completed audits for the 2019 and 2020 fiscal years and bring forth pertinent issues for full committee consideration.
5. Compile information regarding the effects of COVID-19 on the judiciary, with particular reference to the following questions: 1. Have you had any difficulty acquiring PPE for your court, county, or staff? 2. How have your caseloads been impacted by COVID-19? Do you have a backlog of cases? 3. What has been your experience in using Zoom or other online platforms for court proceedings? 4. How has the pandemic impacted court staff, e.g. space, teleworking, flexible work shifts, etc.? *
Committee: House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence
Title: Interim Report
Subjects: Asbestos lawsuits | Bankruptcy | Child custody | Court Administration, Texas Office of | Court costs and fees | Court records | Family violence | Guardianship | Lawsuit lending | Legislative intent | Ombudsmen | Protective orders | Rules and regulations | Statutory revision | Wills and estates |
Library Call Number: L1836.82 J898
Session: 82nd R.S. (2011)
Online version: View report [34 pages]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Study the potential effects on victims of family and domestic violence in the judicial process if courts are allowed to issue agreed protective orders without a finding of violence.
2. Study and make recommendations regarding the discrepancies in guardianship and child custody statutes. Review potential solutions to the problems surrounding "arbitrary and capricious" findings by trial court judges.
3. Study the rules of statutory construction and establish a method of determining legislative intent.
4. Study the degree of transparency in asbestos bankruptcy trusts and how it affects litigation of asbestos exposure claims in Texas courts.
5. Study the public policy implications of lawsuit lending and its effects on the civil justice system.
6. Study whether the asbestos and silica multidistrict litigation courts should be allowed to dismiss, without prejudice, claims on the courts' inactive dockets for want of prosecution under certain circumstances.
7. Study best practices regarding corporate governance. Make recommendations on the confidentiality of communications to ombudsmen in order to provide more protections to complaining parties.
8. Monitor the agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction and the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 82nd Legislature.
Committee: Senate Jurisprudence
Title: Interim Report
Library Catalog Title: Senate Committee on Jurisprudence interim report : report the 80th Legislature
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution | Child support | County courts | Court costs and fees | Court records | Court reporters | Debt collection | Fines | Guardianship | Legal fees | Probate courts | Probation |
Library Call Number: L1836.79 J979
Session: 79th R.S. (2005)
Online version: View report [121 pages  File size: 5,464 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Examine and make recommendations relating to the jurisdiction of statutory county courts, including the development of standardized language for Chapter 25, Government Code, to confer specific types of jurisdiction on statutory county courts and to ensure the statutes are clear and concise.
2. Examine and make recommendations to improve court oversight of fiduciaries appointed to make financial and personal decisions for wards as well as those appointed to administer an estate or trust.
3. Study and make recommendations relating to the use and cost benefits of electronic recording as an alternative method of preserving records of official court proceedings.
4. Monitor the implementation of SB 1863, 79th R.S., specifically the Collection Improvement Program, which seeks to improve the collection of criminal court fees, fines and costs. Make recommendations to increase the effectiveness of the Collection Improvement Program and determine if any statutory changes are necessary.
5. Study and make recommendations relating to the possible uses and need for statutory directives regarding the use of collaborative law procedures.
6. Review statutes, regulations, guidelines, and formulas relating to child support and make recommendations, if necessary, to ensure adequate support, including educational expenses, for children.

* This represents an abstract of the report contents. Charge text is incomplete or unavailable.

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