By Wolens, Chavez                                       H.B. No. 62
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the authority of certain courts to try  civil cases at
 1-3     institutions of higher education and other schools.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 24.012, Government Code, is amended by
 1-6     adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
 1-7           (e)  Not earlier than the 31st day after notifying each party
 1-8     to the case, a district judge, with the express consent of each
 1-9     party to the case, may try a civil case at an institution of higher
1-10     education, private or independent institution of higher education,
1-11     or public or private high school in the county in which the case is
1-12     filed.  For purposes of this subsection, "institution of higher
1-13     education" and "private or independent institution of higher
1-14     education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education
1-15     Code.  A county in which a case is tried at an alternative location
1-16     as provided by this subsection is not required to pay additional
1-17     costs incurred because the case is tried at the alternative
1-18     location.
1-19           SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 25, Government Code, is
1-20     amended by adding Section 25.0019 to read as follows:
1-21           Sec. 25.0019.  LOCATION OF PROCEEDINGS IN CIVIL CASES. Not
1-22     earlier than the 31st day after notifying each party to the case,
1-23     the judge of a statutory county court, with the express consent of
1-24     each party to the case, may try a civil case at an institution of
 2-1     higher education, private or independent institution of higher
 2-2     education, or public or private high school in the county in which
 2-3     the case is filed.  For purposes of this section, "institution of
 2-4     higher education" and "private or independent institution of higher
 2-5     education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education
 2-6     Code.  A county in which a case is tried at an alternative location
 2-7     as provided by this section is not required to pay additional costs
 2-8     incurred because the case is tried at the alternative location.
 2-9           SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 25, Government Code, is
2-10     amended by adding Section 25.0033 to read as follows:
2-11           Sec. 25.0033.  LOCATION OF PROCEEDINGS. Not earlier than the
2-12     31st day after notifying each party to the case, the judge of a
2-13     statutory probate court, with the express consent of each party to
2-14     the case, may try a case at an institution of higher education,
2-15     private or independent institution of higher education, or public
2-16     or private high school in the county in which the case is filed.
2-17     For purposes of this section, "institution of higher education" and
2-18     "private or independent institution of higher education" have the
2-19     meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.  A county in
2-20     which a case is tried at an alternative location as provided by
2-21     this section is not required to pay additional costs incurred
2-22     because the case is tried at the alternative location.
2-23           SECTION 4. Section 26.002, Government Code, is amended by
2-24     amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
2-25     follows:
2-26           (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (d), all [All] terms of
2-27     court must be held at the county seat.
 3-1           (d)  Not earlier than the 31st day after notifying each party
 3-2     to the case, a county judge, with the express consent of each party
 3-3     to the case, may try a civil case at an institution of higher
 3-4     education, private or independent institution of higher education,
 3-5     or public or private high school in the county. For purposes of
 3-6     this subsection, "institution of higher education" and "private or
 3-7     independent institution of higher education" have the meanings
 3-8     assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.  A county in which a
 3-9     case is tried at an alternative location as provided by this
3-10     subsection is not required to pay additional costs incurred because
3-11     the case is tried at the alternative location.
3-12           SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and
3-13     applies only to a case filed in a district, county, statutory
3-14     county, or statutory probate court on or after that date.