Sec. 22.214. THIRTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS. (a) The Court of Appeals for the Thirteenth Court of Appeals District shall be held in the City of Corpus Christi and the City of Edinburg.

(b) Nueces County shall furnish and equip suitable rooms in the City of Corpus Christi and Hidalgo County shall furnish and equip suitable rooms in the City of Edinburg for the court and the justices without expense to the state.

(c) The court may transact its business at the county seat of any county in the district as the court determines is necessary and convenient, except that:

(1) all cases originating in Nueces County shall be heard and transacted in Nueces County; and

(2) all cases originating in Cameron, Hidalgo, or Willacy County shall be heard and transacted in Cameron, Hidalgo, or Willacy County.

(d) The commissioners courts of the counties in the district by adopting concurrent orders may authorize the payment of an automobile allowance in an amount not to exceed $15,000 annually to each of the justices of the court for automobile expenses incurred in performing official duties.

(e) The automobile allowance authorized by Subsection (d) is not subject to:

(1) the limitations on additional compensation paid to a justice of a court of appeals district imposed by Section 31.003; or

(2) the salary differentials provided by Subchapter B, Chapter 659.

(f) Nueces County shall each fiscal year pay the total amount of the supplemental salaries, car allowances, and fringe benefits to the justices of the court. Each county composing the district, except Nueces County, shall annually reimburse Nueces County for that county's portion of the total amount paid under this subsection by Nueces County during the preceding fiscal year. Each county in the district, including Nueces County, is liable for a share of the total amount paid, based on the proportion that county's population bears to the total population of all the counties in the district.

(g) The Commissioners Court of Nueces County shall provide to each county liable for the reimbursement under Subsection (f) a statement of that county's share. The statement must be approved by the chief justice of the Court of Appeals for the Thirteenth Court of Appeals District. A county shall pay its share of the reimbursement not later than the 60th day after the beginning of the county's fiscal year.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 1.18, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1037, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1989; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1177, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.