Bill Caption

Relating to the operation and administration of and practice in courts in the judicial branch of state government; increasing a fee. 

Fiscal Notes

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1329, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($1,500,187) through the biennium ending August 31, 2019.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

Bill Analysis

This bill would make various changes to the code pertaining to the powers of certain judges and the jurisdictions of certain courts. This bill would expand the current meaning of a “Title IV-D case” to include a suit for modification of a parent-child relationship filed by the Title IV-D agency, and any other action relating to the services the agency provides. This bill would also give associate judges the authority to hear, render, and sign final orders if the parties waive their right to a de novo hearing. In addition, if the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has been named the conservator over a child, an associate judge would be allowed to hear and render an order in a suit for their adoption. 

This bill would establish the following judicial districts.

• 453rd Judicial District- Hays County
• 458th Judicial District- Fort Bend County
• 459th Judicial District- Travis County- Civil Matters
  
• 460th Judicial District- Travis County- Criminal Matters
• 462nd Judicial District - Denton County
• 464th Judicial District - Hidalgo County
• Criminal Court No. 4 - Denton County - Mental Health Matters
• County Court at Law No. 6 - Fort Bend County
• Grimes County - Statutory Court- Family Law Cases
• County Court at Law No. 3 -  Hays County 

Vote Recommendation Notes

It is well within the proper role of government to establish new courts and assign jurisdictions. This bill does not have a measurable impact on our liberty principles, therefore we will remain neutral.