Bill Text: TX HB166 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 3rd Special Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of additional judicial districts composed of Harris County; making an appropriation.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-10-13 - Referred to Constitutional Rights & Remedies [HB166 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB166-Introduced.html
By: A. Johnson of Harris | H.B. No. 166 |
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relating to the creation of additional judicial districts composed | ||
of Harris County; making an appropriation. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that: | ||
(1) in the last five years, Harris County has been | ||
devastated by multiple disasters, including Hurricane Harvey and | ||
the COVID-19 pandemic, that have resulted in the closure of | ||
courthouses in the county and created a backlog of criminal cases | ||
waiting to be heard; | ||
(2) ongoing restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic | ||
and construction at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center will | ||
continue to restrict access to jury trials; | ||
(3) an increase in defendants released on personal | ||
bond or monetary bail while awaiting trial has lead to an increase | ||
in the levels of crime in Harris County; and | ||
(4) without additional courts, the Harris County | ||
Criminal District Courts will take 15 years to clear the backlog of | ||
criminal cases and return to the number of pending criminal cases | ||
seen prior to Hurricane Harvey, further endangering the safety of | ||
the Harris County community, law enforcement, and victims. | ||
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, is | ||
amended by adding Sections 24.60031, 24.60032, and 24.60033 to read | ||
as follows: | ||
Sec. 24.60031. 486TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HARRIS COUNTY). | ||
(a) The 486th Judicial District is composed of Harris County. | ||
(b) The 486th District Court shall give preference to | ||
criminal cases. | ||
(c) On February 1, 2024: | ||
(1) this section expires; and | ||
(2) the 486th Judicial District is abolished. | ||
Sec. 24.60032. 487TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HARRIS COUNTY). | ||
(a) The 487th Judicial District is composed of Harris County. | ||
(b) The 487th District Court shall give preference to | ||
criminal cases. | ||
(c) On February 1, 2024: | ||
(1) this section expires; and | ||
(2) the 487th Judicial District is abolished. | ||
Sec. 24.60033. 488TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HARRIS COUNTY). | ||
(a) The 488th Judicial District is composed of Harris County. | ||
(b) The 488th District Court shall give preference to | ||
criminal cases. | ||
(c) On February 1, 2024: | ||
(1) this section expires; and | ||
(2) the 488th Judicial District is abolished. | ||
SECTION 3. The amount of $595,716 is appropriated from the | ||
general revenue fund to the Comptroller of Public Accounts, | ||
Judiciary Section for the state fiscal biennium beginning September | ||
1, 2021, for the purpose of providing funding for the judicial | ||
salaries and other necessary expenses for the 486th, 487th, and | ||
488th Judicial Districts. | ||
SECTION 4. The 486th, 487th, and 488th Judicial Districts | ||
are created on the effective date of this Act. | ||
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect January 1, 2022, if this | ||
Act receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each | ||
house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. | ||
If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for effect on that | ||
date, this Act takes effect February 1, 2022. |