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.

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