Bill Text: TX HB1897 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relating to the jurisdiction of, number of jurors in, and the clerk serving the County Court at Law of Van Zandt County.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2011-06-17 - Effective on 9/1/11 [HB1897 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-HB1897-Enrolled.html

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H.B. No. 1897

AN ACT
relating to the jurisdiction of, number of jurors in, and the clerk
serving the County Court at Law of Van Zandt County.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 25.2362, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a) and (f) and adding Subsection (i) to read
as follows:
(a) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section
25.0003 and other law, and except as limited by Subsection (b), a
county court at law in Van Zandt County has concurrent jurisdiction
with the district court in:
(1) felony cases to:
(A) conduct arraignments;
(B) conduct pretrial hearings;
(C) accept guilty pleas; and
(D) conduct jury trials on assignment of a
district judge presiding in Van Zandt County and acceptance of the
assignment by the judge of the county court at law;
(2) Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases;
(3) family law matters;
(4) juvenile matters;
(5) probate matters;
(6) guardianship matters; and
(7) [(6)] appeals from the justice and municipal
courts.
(f) The district clerk serves as clerk of a county court at
law in family court matters and proceedings [of concurrent
jurisdiction with the district court], and the county clerk shall
serve as clerk of a county court at law in all other matters. Each
clerk shall establish a separate docket for a county court at law.
(i) If a jury trial is requested in a case that is in a
county court at law's jurisdiction, the jury shall be composed of
six members unless the constitution requires a 12-member jury.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1897 was passed by the House on May
13, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1897 was passed by the Senate on May
25, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor