BILL ANALYSIS
By: Hinojosa
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
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.
The bill increases the amount of a judgment that may be appealed from small claims court from $20 to $250.
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
SECTION 1. Amends Section 28.052(a), Government Code, by authorizing a dissatisfied party to appeal the final judgment 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.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007.