BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                      S.B. 1416

                                                                                                                                       By: Hinojosa

Jurisprudence

7/3/2007

Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The current minimum amount which a defendant is authorized to appeal from small claims court is $20.  An increase in this minimum may help to expedite trials and to decrease the backlog in some of the higher level courts. 

S.B. 1416 increases the amount of a judgment that may be appealed from small claims court from $20 to $250. 

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 28.052(a), Government Code, by authorizing a dissatisfied party to appeal the final judgment from small claims court to the county court or county court at law if the amount in controversy, exclusive of costs, exceeds $250, rather than $20.

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2007.