SRC-JLB, LBB S.B. 184 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 184
78R2280 SGA-FBy: Janek
Jurisprudence
2/13/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 
 
Currently, the commissioners court of a county may assess limited court
costs to help fund alternative dispute resolution systems, such as
offering mediation of disputes prior to a court filing.  Alternative
dispute resolution systems have helped reduce court backlogs and save
money for communities. However, expenses for alternative dispute
resolution systems, such as personnel and office space, have increased
since the statute was enacted in the 1980s.  Only counties with a
population of 2.5 million or more may hear cases in justice courts.  As
proposed, S.B. 184 allows any county commissioners court to establish an
alternative dispute resolution system in county, district, and justice
courts and authorizes a nominal increase in court costs to fund such a
system. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 152.004(a), Civil Practice and Remedies Code,
by increasing from $10 to $15 the maximum amount to be set as a court cost
in the funding of alternative dispute resolution systems. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 152.005, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as
follows: 

Sec. 152.005.  New Heading:  ADDITIONAL FEE FOR JUSTICE COURTS.  (a)
Deletes requirement for a county to have a population of 2.5 million or
more to establish and maintain an alternative dispute resolution system.
Increases from $3 to $5 the maximum amount to be set as a court cost for
civil cases filed in a justice court located in the county, in order to
fund the alternative dispute resolution system. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.
            Makes application of this Act prospective.