HBA-JLV, CBW, EDN H.B. 1041 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1041 By: Smith Judicial Affairs 66/13/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Prior to the 77th Legislature, County Criminal Court No. 5 of Tarrant County was the only court in the county with jurisdiction over Class C misdemeanor appeals from municipal and justice courts. The growing volume and complexity of family law cases filed in County Criminal Court No.5 resulted in Class C misdemeanor appeals being heard only one day a week. The inability of the court to hear a sufficient number of these cases created a significant backlog. Expanding the jurisdiction of an existing county criminal court in Tarrant County will reduce the backlog and may help expedite the hearing of cases. House Bill 1041 expands the jurisdiction of County Criminal Court No.10 of Tarrant County to include Class C misdemeanor appeals. 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 1041 amends the Government Code to provide that the County Criminal Court No.10 of Tarrant County has concurrent jurisdiction within the county of all appeals from criminal convictions under the laws of this state and the municipal ordinances of the municipalities located in Tarrant County that are appealed from the justice courts and municipal courts in the county. EFFECTIVE DATE May 16, 2001.