BILL ANALYSIS
By: Miller
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Under current law, the County Court at law in Erath County has jurisdiction over family law cases in addition to the jurisdiction provided to statutory county courts. It does not allow the Erath County court to hear civil cases. HB 496 would expand the county court's concurrent jurisdiction.
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
The bill amends Section 25.0742(a) of the Government Code to allow a county court at law in Erath County concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in civil cases in which the matter in controversy exceeds $500 but does not exceed $500,000, excluding interest, statutory or punitive penalties, and attorneys' fees and costs.
The expanded jurisdiction applies only to cases filed after the effective date.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005
The amendment lowers the jurisdictional limit of the court from $1,000,000 to $500,000 in civil cases, which is an expansion of the jurisdiction of the court under current law.