H.B. No. 4741
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of three additional county courts at law in
  Bexar County.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 25.0171(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  Bexar County has the following county courts at law:
               (1)  County Court at Law No. 1 of Bexar County, Texas;
               (2)  County Court at Law No. 2 of Bexar County, Texas;
               (3)  County Court at Law No. 3 of Bexar County, Texas;
               (4)  County Court at Law No. 4 of Bexar County, Texas;
               (5)  County Court at Law No. 5 of Bexar County, Texas;
               (6)  County Court at Law No. 6 of Bexar County, Texas;
               (7)  County Court at Law No. 7 of Bexar County, Texas;
               (8)  County Court at Law No. 8 of Bexar County, Texas;
               (9)  County Court at Law No. 9 of Bexar County, Texas;
               (10)  County Court at Law No. 10 of Bexar County, Texas;
               (11)  County Court at Law No. 11 of Bexar County, Texas;
  [and]
               (12)  County Court at Law No. 12 of Bexar County, Texas;
               (13)  County Court at Law No. 13 of Bexar County, Texas;
               (14)  County Court at Law No. 14 of Bexar County, Texas;
  and
               (15)  County Court at Law No. 15 of Bexar County, Texas.
         SECTION 2.  Section 25.0172, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (c-1) and amending Subsections (d), (l), (n),
  (o), (u), and (v) to read as follows:
         (c-1)  The County Court at Law No. 13 of Bexar County, Texas,
  shall give preference to cases prosecuted under:
               (1)  Section 22.01, Penal Code, in which the victim is a
  person whose relationship to or association with the defendant is
  described by Chapter 71, Family Code; and
               (2)  Section 25.07, Penal Code.
         (d)  The County Courts at Law Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
  [and] 12, 13, 14, and 15 have six terms of court beginning on the
  first Mondays in January, March, May, July, September, and
  November. The County Court at Law No. 2 has six terms of court
  beginning on the first Mondays in February, April, June, August,
  October, and December.
         (l)  If the judge of the County Court at Law No. 4, 6, 7, 8, 9,
  10, 11, [or] 12, 13, 14, or 15 is absent, disabled, or disqualified
  from presiding, a special judge may be appointed or elected in the
  manner provided by law for the appointment or election of a special
  county judge. A special judge must take the oath of office required
  by law for the regular judge. A special judge has the power and
  jurisdiction of the court and of the regular judge for whom the
  special judge is sitting and may sign orders, judgments, decrees,
  and other process of any kind as "Judge Presiding." A special judge
  is entitled to receive for services performed the same amount of
  compensation as the regular judge, to be paid out of county funds.
  The compensation paid a special judge may not be deducted from the
  salary of the regular judge.
         (n)  The criminal district attorney shall attend the County
  Court at Law No. 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, [or] 12, 13, 14, or 15 as
  required by the judge. The criminal district attorney serves the
  county courts at law as provided by Section 25.0010(b).
         (o)  The judge of the County Court at Law No. 4 or 6 may
  appoint a court coordinator or administrative assistant for the
  court. The judge of the County Court at Law No. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
  [or] 12, 13, 14, or 15 may, with the approval of the commissioners
  court, appoint a court coordinator or administrative assistant for
  the court. A court coordinator or administrative assistant
  performs the duties prescribed by the judge and cooperates with the
  administrative judges and state agencies for the uniform and
  efficient operation of the courts and the administration of
  justice. The court coordinator or administrative assistant is
  entitled to be paid from county funds the compensation, fees, and
  allowances that are set by the commissioners court or as otherwise
  provided by law. These provisions are in addition to the provisions
  in Subchapter F, Chapter 75.
         (u)  The official court reporter of a county court at law is
  entitled to receive an annual salary set by the judge and approved
  by the commissioners court at an amount not less than $35,256. The
  official court reporter's fee shall be taxed as costs in civil
  actions in County Courts at Law Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
  [and] 12, 13, 14, and 15 in the same manner as that fee is taxed in
  district court. In County Court at Law No. 2, the clerk collects
  the official court reporters' fee of $3 and pays it into the county
  treasury in the same manner as district clerks are required to
  collect and pay costs.
         (v)  Section 25.0006(a) does not apply to County Courts at
  Law Nos. 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, [and] 12, 13, 14, and 15 of Bexar
  County. Section 25.0006(b) does not apply to County Courts at Law
  Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, [and] 12, 13, 14, and 15 of Bexar
  County.
         SECTION 3.  The County Courts at Law Nos. 13, 14, and 15 of
  Bexar County, Texas, are created September 1, 2009.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 4741 was passed by the House on May
  15, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 144, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 4741 was passed by the Senate on May
  27, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor