By Goolsby H.B. No. 31
76R1183 MLS-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the jurisdiction of the county, justice, and small
1-3 claims courts.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Sections 26.042(a) and (d), Government Code, are
1-6 amended to read as follows:
1-7 (a) A county court has concurrent jurisdiction with the
1-8 justice courts in civil cases in which the matter in controversy
1-9 exceeds $200 in value but does not exceed $10,000 [$5,000],
1-10 exclusive of interest.
1-11 (d) A county court has concurrent jurisdiction with the
1-12 district court in civil cases in which the matter in controversy
1-13 exceeds $500 but does not exceed $10,000 [$5,000], exclusive of
1-14 interest.
1-15 SECTION 2. Section 27.031(a), Government Code, is amended to
1-16 read as follows:
1-17 (a) In addition to the jurisdiction and powers provided by
1-18 the constitution and other law, the justice court has original
1-19 jurisdiction of:
1-20 (1) civil matters in which exclusive jurisdiction is
1-21 not in the district or county court and in which the amount in
1-22 controversy is not more than $10,000 [$5,000], exclusive of
1-23 interest;
1-24 (2) cases of forcible entry and detainer; and
2-1 (3) foreclosure of mortgages and enforcement of liens
2-2 on personal property in cases in which the amount in controversy is
2-3 otherwise within the justice court's jurisdiction.
2-4 SECTION 3. Section 28.003(a), Government Code, is amended
2-5 to read as follows:
2-6 (a) The small claims court has concurrent jurisdiction with
2-7 the justice court in actions by any person for the recovery of
2-8 money in which the amount involved, exclusive of costs, does not
2-9 exceed $10,000 [$5,000].
2-10 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect on September 1, 1999, and
2-11 applies only to actions filed on or after the effective date of
2-12 this Act. An action filed before the effective date of this Act is
2-13 governed by the law in effect at the time the action was filed, and
2-14 that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
2-15 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
2-16 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-17 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-18 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-19 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.