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.