HBA-KDB H.B. 1567 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1567
By: Dutton
Judicial Affairs
4/4/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

There is concern that judges in justice courts award attorney's fees in
excess of the amount being disputed by the parties to the civil suit.  This
creates a situation in which the losing party suffers a double loss since
the court issues a judgment in favor of the other party while also awarding
the other party attorney's fees in excess of the dollar amount in the suit.
House Bill 1567 prohibits a justice court from awarding attorney's fees in
an amount greater than $500 in any civil action. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1567 amends the Government Code to prohibit a justice court from
awarding attorney's fees in an amount greater than $500 in any civil action
and to specify that this limitation does not authorize an award of
attorney's fees. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.