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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of additional judicial districts composed |
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of Harris County. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The legislature finds that: |
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(1) in the last six years, Harris County has been |
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devastated by multiple disasters, including Hurricane Harvey and |
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the COVID-19 pandemic, that have resulted in the closure of |
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courthouses in the county and created a backlog of criminal cases |
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waiting to be heard; |
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(2) ongoing restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
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and construction at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center will |
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continue to restrict access to jury trials; |
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(3) an increase in defendants released on personal or |
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monetary bond while awaiting trial has lead to an increase in the |
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levels of crime in Harris County; and |
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(4) without additional courts, the Harris County |
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Criminal District Courts will take 15 years to clear the backlog of |
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criminal cases and return to the number of pending criminal cases |
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seen prior to Hurricane Harvey, further endangering the safety of |
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the Harris County community, law enforcement, and victims. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 24.60031, 24.60032, and 24.60033 to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 24.60031. 486TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HARRIS COUNTY). |
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(a) The 486th Judicial District is composed of Harris County. |
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(b) The 486th District Court shall give preference to |
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criminal cases. |
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Sec. 24.60032. 487TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HARRIS COUNTY). |
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(a) The 487th Judicial District is composed of Harris County. |
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(b) The 487th District Court shall give preference to |
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criminal cases. |
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Sec. 24.60033. 488TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HARRIS COUNTY). |
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(a) The 488th Judicial District is composed of Harris County. |
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(b) The 488th District Court shall give preference to |
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criminal cases. |
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Sec. 24.60034. 489TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HARRIS COUNTY). |
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(a) The 489th Judicial District is composed of Harris County. |
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(b) The 489th District Court shall give preference to |
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criminal cases. |
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Sec. 24.60035. 490TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HARRIS COUNTY). |
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(a) The 490th Judicial District is composed of Harris County. |
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(b) The 490th District Court shall give preference to |
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criminal cases. |
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Sec. 24.60036. 491ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HARRIS COUNTY). |
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(a) The 491st Judicial District is composed of Harris County. |
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(b) The 491st District Court shall give preference to |
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criminal cases. |
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SECTION 3. The 486th, 487th, 488th, 489th, 490th, and 491st |
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Judicial Districts are created on the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |