BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 618
By: Wentworth
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Under current law, justice, county, and small claims courts have jurisdiction in matters up to $5,000. A higher jurisdictional limit for these courts could help to expedite trials and to decrease the backlog in some of the higher level courts.
S.B. 618 provides for justice, county, and small claims courts to have jurisdiction in matters up to $10,000.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 26.042(a), Government Code, to provide that a county court has concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in civil cases in which the matter in controversy is at least $200 but does not exceed $10,000, rather than $5,000, exclusive of interest.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 27.031, Government Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c), as follows:
(a) Provides that, in addition to the jurisdiction and powers provided by the constitution and other law, the justice court has original jurisdiction of civil matters in which elusive jurisdiction is not in the district or county court and in which the amount in controversy is not more than $10,000, rather than $5,000, exclusive of interest.
(c) Provides that a corporation need not be represented by an attorney in justice court.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 28.003(a), Government Code, to provide that a small claims court has concurrent jurisdiction with the justice courts in actions by any person for the recovery of money, the amount of which does not exceed $10,000, rather than $5,000, exclusive of costs.
SECTION 4. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 2007.