2001 Legislation:

Commentary on SB 194 and HB 763 -- Creation of
Collin County Probate Court No. 1

On January 5, 2001, Senator Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, filed SB 194, which will create Collin County Probate Court No. 1 if it passes. The new court will begin January 1, 2003, with the judge elected at the 2002 general election.   [01/09/01]

On January 19, 2001, Rep. Brian McCall, R-Plano, filed HB 763, which is identical to SB 194.

It looked like Collin County was going to get a statutory probate court in the 1999 session, but concerns in the Governor's office that the 1999 bill would not allow Collin County voters to elect the first judge of the court (under the 1999 bill, one of the serving county court at law judges would become judge of the statutory probate court) sidetracked the bill.  The 2001 version circumvents that potential problem by requiring the first judge to run for the office in the 2002 election.  [01/23/01]

These comments are those of Glenn M. Karisch and do not reflect the opinions or positions of any group.