HBA-JRA H.B. 400 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 400
By: Thompson
Judicial Affairs
4/7/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

LULAC v. Clements challenged Texas' method of electing district judges in
nine Texas counties.  In 1993, amendments to the Texas Constitution
required the legislature to reapportion judicial districts. The legislature
has not yet approved any new district courts in urban counties with
significant minority populations.  Many of these urban areas have
experienced tremendous growth in population, caseload, and docket backlogs.
H.B. 400 creates three new district courts, one each in Harris, Bexar, and
Fort Bend counties. 

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. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, by adding
Sections 24.55024.552, as follows: 

Sec. 24.550.  405TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HARRIS COUNTY).  Creates the 405th
Judicial District, composed of Harris County, and requires it to give
preference to juvenile matters. 

Sec. 24.551.  406TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (BEXAR COUNTY).  Creates the 406th
Judicial District, composed of Bexar County. 

Sec. 24.552.  407TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (FORT BEND COUNTY).  Creates the
407th Judicial District, composed of Fort Bend County. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.