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.