84R9818 LED-F
By: Faircloth H.B. No. 1688
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to proceedings held in auxiliary facilities outside
certain county seats.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 24.430, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) Section 24.490, relating to the 344th District Court,
contains provisions applicable to both that court and the 253rd
District Court in Chambers County.
SECTION 2. Section 24.490, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (d), (e), and (f) to read as follows:
(d) Notwithstanding Section 24.030, a district court in
Chambers County may sit in a suitable facility outside the county
seat if the facility is designated by the commissioners court as an
auxiliary county seat, as provided by Section 292.031, Local
Government Code.
(e) A district court in Chambers County sitting in an
auxiliary court facility designated by the commissioners court as
an auxiliary county seat may hear, in all case types, the motions,
arguments, nonjury trials and jury trials, and any other matters
before the court within the court's jurisdiction.
(f) The district clerk or the clerk's deputy serves as clerk
of the court when a district court sits in a facility designated as
an auxiliary county seat and may keep all necessary books, minutes,
records, and papers at the facility.
SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 292, Local Government
Code, is amended by adding Section 292.031 to read as follows:
Sec. 292.031. FACILITIES OUTSIDE COUNTY SEAT IN CERTAIN
COUNTIES. (a) This section applies only to a county with a
population of less than 40,000 that is adjacent to a county with a
population of more than 3.3 million.
(b) The commissioners court of a county may provide an
auxiliary court facility, office building, or jail facility at a
location in the county and within 10 miles of the boundaries of the
county seat in the same manner that is applicable to a court,
building, or facility at the county seat. The commissioners court
may provide for the building or facility through the issuance of
bonds or other evidences of indebtedness as provided under Section
292.002 and may provide office space in the building or facility for
any county or precinct office.
(c) The auxiliary court facility may be used for the holding
of court proceedings, including district court proceedings. For the
purpose of the court proceedings, the commissioners court may
designate the location of the auxiliary court as an auxiliary
county seat.
(d) The records of a county officer who is provided space at
a court facility, building, or other facility under this section
may be kept at the building or facility.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it 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 immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2015.