By Howard H.B. No. 1962
75R4843 DAK-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to alternative dispute resolution systems established by
1-3 counties.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 152.003, Civil Practice and Remedies
1-6 Code, is amended to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 152.003. REFERRAL OF CASES. A judge of a district
1-8 court, county court, statutory county court, probate court, or
1-9 justice of the peace court in a county in which an alternative
1-10 dispute resolution system has been established may, on motion of a
1-11 party or on its own motion, refer a case to the system. Referral
1-12 under this section does not prejudice the case.
1-13 SECTION 2. Section 152.004(a), Civil Practice and Remedies
1-14 Code, is amended to read as follows:
1-15 (a) To establish and maintain an alternative dispute
1-16 resolution system, the commissioners court may set a court cost in
1-17 an amount not to exceed $10 to be taxed, collected, and paid as
1-18 other court costs in each civil case[, except suits for delinquent
1-19 taxes,] filed in a justice of the peace, county, or district court
1-20 in the county, including probate matters, but not including:
1-21 (1) a suit for delinquent taxes;
1-22 (2) a traffic matter;
1-23 (3) a condemnation proceeding; and
1-24 (4) a proceeding under Subtitle C, Title 7, Health and
2-1 Safety Code.
2-2 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and
2-3 applies only to an action commenced on or after that date. An
2-4 action commenced before the effective date of this Act is governed
2-5 by the law applicable to the action immediately before the
2-6 effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for
2-7 that purpose.
2-8 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-9 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-10 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-11 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-12 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.