PDH S.B. 612 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 612 By: Ogden Judicial Affairs 4/6/1999 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, Williamson County has two county courts at law, the second of which was created in 1989. Since then, the county's population has increased by 50 percent, the number of cases filed has increased by 68 percent, and the number of cases pending has increased by 92 percent. Additionally, an Austin Transportation Study predicts that Williamson County's population will increase by nearly 400 percent over the next 25 years. S.B. 612 creates another statutory county court in Williamson County, for which the commissioners court has designated $800,000 to help fund. 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 Section 25.2481, Government Code, to create County Court at Law No. 3 in Williamson County. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3.Emergency clause.