BILL ANALYSIS
By: Puente
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently in Bexar County, a county court at law has concurrent jurisdiction with district courts in civil cases in which the matter in controversy exceeds $500 but does not exceed $100,000, excluding interest, statutory or punitive damages and penalties, and attorney’s fees and costs, as alleged on the petition’s face.
The maximum amount in controversy is relatively low for a large county such as Bexar County. For example, Travis County’s maximum amount in controversy is $250,000. Bexar County would like to increase its maximum amount to $250,000 to distribute the case load more evenly among the count court at law judges and district court judges. The distribution of cases would be an efficient use of the judiciary’s time allowing more judges to hear cases.
The increase would also reflect the cost of living increases that have occurred
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. 1905 amends Section 25.0172(a), Government Code, to provide that a county court at law in Bexar County has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in civil cases where the base alleged matter in controversy is between $500 and $250,000.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005