By Goodman                                            H.B. No. 1364
         77R4576 SGA-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the funding of alternative dispute resolution systems.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 152.004(a), Civil Practice and Remedies
 1-5     Code, is amended to read as follows:
 1-6           (a)  To establish and maintain an alternative dispute
 1-7     resolution system, the commissioners court may set a court cost in
 1-8     an amount not to exceed $15 [$10] to be taxed, collected, and paid
 1-9     as other court costs in each civil case filed in a county or
1-10     district court in the county, including a civil case relating to
1-11     probate matters but not including:
1-12                 (1)  a suit for delinquent taxes;
1-13                 (2)  a condemnation proceeding under Chapter 21,
1-14     Property Code; or
1-15                 (3)  a proceeding under Subtitle C, Title 7, Health and
1-16     Safety Code.
1-17           SECTION 2.  Section 152.005, Civil Practice and Remedies
1-18     Code, is amended to read as follows:
1-19           Sec. 152.005.  ADDITIONAL FEE FOR JUSTICE COURTS [CERTAIN
1-20     COUNTIES]. (a)  To establish and maintain an alternative dispute
1-21     resolution system, the commissioners court [of a county with a
1-22     population of 2.5 million or more] may, in addition to the court
1-23     cost authorized under Section 152.004, set a court cost in an
1-24     amount not to exceed $5 [$3] for civil cases filed in a justice
 2-1     court located in the county, but not including:
 2-2                 (1)  a suit for delinquent taxes; or
 2-3                 (2)  an eviction proceeding, including a forcible
 2-4     detainer, a forcible entry and detainer, or a writ of re-entry.
 2-5           (b)  A clerk of the court shall collect and pay the court
 2-6     cost in the manner prescribed by Section 152.004(c).
 2-7           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and
 2-8     applies only to a civil case filed on or after that date.