77R8570 E
By Wolens H.B. No. 62
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 62:
By Capelo C.S.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) A district judge may try a civil case at an institution
1-8 of higher education, private or independent institution of higher
1-9 education, or public or private high school in the county in which
1-10 the case is filed. For purposes of this subsection, "institution
1-11 of higher education" and "private or independent institution of
1-12 higher education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003,
1-13 Education Code. A county in which a case is tried at an
1-14 alternative location as provided by this subsection is not required
1-15 to pay additional costs incurred because the case is tried at the
1-16 alternative location.
1-17 SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 25, Government Code, is
1-18 amended by adding Section 25.0019 to read as follows:
1-19 Sec. 25.0019. LOCATION OF PROCEEDINGS IN CIVIL CASES. The
1-20 judge of a statutory county court may try a civil case at an
1-21 institution of higher education, private or independent institution
1-22 of higher education, or public or private high school in the county
1-23 in which the case is filed. For purposes of this section,
1-24 "institution of higher education" and "private or independent
2-1 institution of higher education" have the meanings assigned by
2-2 Section 61.003, Education Code. A county in which a case is tried
2-3 at an alternative location as provided by this section is not
2-4 required to pay additional costs incurred because the case is tried
2-5 at the alternative location.
2-6 SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 25, Government Code, is
2-7 amended by adding Section 25.0033 to read as follows:
2-8 Sec. 25.0033. LOCATION OF PROCEEDINGS. The judge of a
2-9 statutory probate court may try a case at an institution of higher
2-10 education, private or independent institution of higher education,
2-11 or public or private high school in the county in which the case is
2-12 filed. For purposes of this section, "institution of higher
2-13 education" and "private or independent institution of higher
2-14 education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education
2-15 Code. A county in which a case is tried at an alternative location
2-16 as provided by this section is not required to pay additional costs
2-17 incurred because the case is tried at the alternative location.
2-18 SECTION 4. Section 26.002, Government Code, is amended by
2-19 amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
2-20 follows:
2-21 (c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), all [All] terms of
2-22 court must be held at the county seat.
2-23 (d) A county judge may try a civil case at an institution of
2-24 higher education, private or independent institution of higher
2-25 education, or public or private high school in the county. For
2-26 purposes of this subsection, "institution of higher education" and
2-27 "private or independent institution of higher education" have the
3-1 meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. A county in
3-2 which a case is tried at an alternative location as provided by
3-3 this subsection is not required to pay additional costs incurred
3-4 because the case is tried at the alternative location.
3-5 SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and
3-6 applies only to a case filed in a district, county, statutory
3-7 county, or statutory probate court on or after that date.