SRC-JXG H.B. 1350 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1350
76R1258 JMC-DBy: Solis, Jim (Lucio)
Intergovernmental Relations
5/10/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law limits the amount in controversy in a county court at
law in Cameron County to no more than $100,000.  Expanding the amount would
allow cases which would normally be filed in the local district court to be
filed in the county court at law, thus diminishing the caseload of the
district court.  H.B. 1350 would increase the allowed amount in controversy
in a county court at law in Cameron County to $1 million, rather than
$100,000. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1350 increases the allowed amount in statutory county
courts of Cameron County to $1 million. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 25.0332(a), Government Code, to provide that in
addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section 25.0003 and other law, a
county court at law in Cameron County has concurrent jurisdiction with the
district court in civil cases in which the amount in controversy exceeds
$500 but does not exceed $1 million, rather than $100,000, excluding
interest. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.