HBA-EDN H.B. 211 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 211 By: Longoria Criminal Jurisprudence 3/15/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, a defendant in a criminal case is allowed to waive their right to a trial by jury only with the consent of the attorney representing the state. Trials without juries tend to be simpler, less expensive, and more expeditious. If a district or deputy district attorney refuses to consent to a waiver of a jury trial in misdemeanor cases, it may result in substantial backlog in court dockets. House Bill 211 eliminates the requirement for the consent of the district or deputy district attorney for a waiver of a jury trial in misdemeanor criminal cases. 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 211 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to provide that a defendant in a criminal prosecution of a misdemeanor offense only needs the consent and approval of the court to waive the right of trial by jury, rather than both the court and the attorney representing the state. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.