By:  Lindsay                                                      S.B. No. 1206


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to procedures in condemnation proceedings in a county 
civil court at law in Harris County.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 25.1032, Government Code, is amended by 
amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (m) to read as 
follows:
	(c)  A county civil court at law in Harris County has 
concurrent [exclusive] jurisdiction with the district court [in 
Harris County] of eminent domain proceedings, both statutory and 
inverse, regardless of the amount in controversy.  Notwithstanding 
Section 21.013, Property Code, a party initiating a condemnation 
proceeding in Harris County may file a petition with any clerk 
authorized to accept the petition for the district courts.  A 
condemnation proceeding shall be assigned by rotation to a court 
with jurisdiction to hear the proceeding. In addition to other 
jurisdiction provided by law, a county civil court at law has 
jurisdiction to:
		(1)  decide the issue of title to real or personal 
property;                
		(2)  hear a suit to recover damages for slander or 
defamation of character; 
		(3)  hear a suit for the enforcement of a lien on real 
property;            
		(4)  hear a suit for the forfeiture of a corporate 
charter;                 
		(5)  hear a suit for the trial of the right to property 
valued at $200 or more that has been levied on under a writ of 
execution, sequestration, or attachment; and
		(6)  hear a suit for the recovery of real property.                           
	(m)  Notwithstanding Section 62.301, for a condemnation 
proceeding before a county civil court at law, a party may elect to 
have the proceeding tried before a jury of 12 persons.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.