H.B. 3568 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 3568
By: Solis
Judicial Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law limits the jurisdiction of a county court at law in Cameron
County to cases in which the amount in controversy does not exceed $1
million.  Expanding this amount would allow cases that would normally be
filed in the district court to be filed in the county court at law, thus
reducing the caseload of the district court.  H.B. 3568 increases the
jurisdiction of a county court at law in Cameron County to an amount not
to exceed $10 million.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3568 amends the Government Code to provide that a county court at law
in Cameron County has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in
civil cases in which the amount in controversy exceeds $500 but does not
exceed $10 million, excluding interest.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.