84R2228 SRS-D By: Watson S.B. No. 443 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to a study and recommendations by the Texas Judicial Council on consolidating the court of criminal appeals and the supreme court or abolishing one of the courts and transferring that court's functions and jurisdiction to the other court. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. STUDY AND RECOMMENDATIONS. The Texas Judicial Council shall: (1) conduct a study and make recommendations regarding whether it is advisable for the court of criminal appeals and the supreme court to be consolidated or for one court to be abolished and its functions and jurisdiction transferred to the other court; and (2) if the Texas Judicial Council recommends consolidating the courts or abolishing a court under Subdivision (1) of this section, develop and propose a transition plan to implement that recommendation. SECTION 2. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2016, the Texas Judicial Council shall report the council's findings and recommendations required by this Act to the governor and the members of the legislature. The report must include the Texas Judicial Council's proposed transition plan, if applicable, required by Section 1(2) of this Act. SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.