By:  Ellis                                            S.B. No. 1689

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to certain counties establishing alternative dispute

 1-2     resolution systems for students.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Title 7, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is

 1-5     amended by adding Chapter 153 to read as follows:

 1-6                CHAPTER 153.  ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

 1-7                             SYSTEM FOR STUDENTS

 1-8           Sec. 153.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "alternative

 1-9     dispute resolution system" has the meaning assigned by Section

1-10     152.001.

1-11           Sec. 153.002.  SCOPE OF CHAPTER.  This chapter applies only

1-12     to a county with a population of more than 2,400,000.

1-13           Sec. 153.003.  ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION SYSTEM FOR

1-14     STUDENTS.  (a)  The commissioners court of a county by order may

1-15     establish an alternative dispute resolution system for the

1-16     peaceable and expeditious resolution of disputes between students

1-17     in the public primary and secondary schools in the county.

1-18           (b)  The commissioners court may take all necessary action to

1-19     make the alternative dispute resolution system effective,

1-20     including:

1-21                 (1)  contracting with a private nonprofit corporation,

1-22     a political subdivision, a public corporation, or a combination of

1-23     those entities for the purpose of administering the system;

 2-1                 (2)  making reasonable rules relating to the system;

 2-2     and

 2-3                 (3)  vesting management of the system in an entity

 2-4     selected by the commission.

 2-5           (c)  The actions of an entity authorized by Subsection (b)(3)

 2-6     are subject to the approval of the commissioners court.

 2-7           Sec. 153.004.  FINANCING.  (a)  To establish and maintain an

 2-8     alternative dispute resolution system for students under this

 2-9     chapter, the commissioners court may set a court cost in an amount

2-10     not to exceed $3.50 to be taxed, collected, and paid as other court

2-11     costs in each civil case, except suits for delinquent taxes,

2-12     condemnation, and proceedings under Subtitle C, Title 7, Health and

2-13     Safety Code, filed in a county court, statutory county court,

2-14     probate court, or district court in the county.

2-15           (b)  The county is not liable for the payment of a court cost

2-16     under this section.

2-17           (c)  The clerks of the courts in the county shall collect and

2-18     pay the costs to the county treasurer or, if the county does not

2-19     have a treasurer, to the county officer who performs the functions

2-20     of the treasurer, who shall deposit the costs in a separate fund

2-21     known as the school conflict resolution fund.  The fund shall be

2-22     administered by the commissioners court and may be used only to

2-23     establish and maintain the alternative dispute resolution system

2-24     for students in the county under this chapter.

2-25           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

 3-1     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 3-2     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 3-3     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 3-4     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

 3-5     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

 3-6     passage, and it is so enacted.