1-1 By: Ellis S.B. No. 1689 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed March 14, 1997; March 24, 1997, read 1-3 first time and referred to Committee on Jurisprudence; 1-4 April 3, 1997, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7, 1-5 Nays 0; April 3, 1997, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to certain counties establishing alternative dispute 1-9 resolution systems for students. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Title 7, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is 1-12 amended by adding Chapter 153 to read as follows: 1-13 CHAPTER 153. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION 1-14 SYSTEM FOR STUDENTS 1-15 Sec. 153.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "alternative 1-16 dispute resolution system" has the meaning assigned by Section 1-17 152.001. 1-18 Sec. 153.002. SCOPE OF CHAPTER. This chapter applies only 1-19 to a county with a population of more than 2,400,000. 1-20 Sec. 153.003. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION SYSTEM FOR 1-21 STUDENTS. (a) The commissioners court of a county by order may 1-22 establish an alternative dispute resolution system for the 1-23 peaceable and expeditious resolution of disputes between students 1-24 in the public primary and secondary schools in the county. 1-25 (b) The commissioners court may take all necessary action to 1-26 make the alternative dispute resolution system effective, 1-27 including: 1-28 (1) contracting with a private nonprofit corporation, 1-29 a political subdivision, a public corporation, or a combination of 1-30 those entities for the purpose of administering the system; 1-31 (2) making reasonable rules relating to the system; 1-32 and 1-33 (3) vesting management of the system in an entity 1-34 selected by the commission. 1-35 (c) The actions of an entity authorized by Subsection (b)(3) 1-36 are subject to the approval of the commissioners court. 1-37 Sec. 153.004. FINANCING. (a) To establish and maintain an 1-38 alternative dispute resolution system for students under this 1-39 chapter, the commissioners court may set a court cost in an amount 1-40 not to exceed $3.50 to be taxed, collected, and paid as other court 1-41 costs in each civil case, except suits for delinquent taxes, 1-42 condemnation, and proceedings under Subtitle C, Title 7, Health and 1-43 Safety Code, filed in a county court, statutory county court, 1-44 probate court, or district court in the county. 1-45 (b) The county is not liable for the payment of a court cost 1-46 under this section. 1-47 (c) The clerks of the courts in the county shall collect and 1-48 pay the costs to the county treasurer or, if the county does not 1-49 have a treasurer, to the county officer who performs the functions 1-50 of the treasurer, who shall deposit the costs in a separate fund 1-51 known as the school conflict resolution fund. The fund shall be 1-52 administered by the commissioners court and may be used only to 1-53 establish and maintain the alternative dispute resolution system 1-54 for students in the county under this chapter. 1-55 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 1-56 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-57 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-58 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-59 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-60 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-61 passage, and it is so enacted. 1-62 * * * * *