BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                      S.B. 1973

                                                                                                                                            By: Fraser

Jurisprudence

4/23/2007

As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

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.  Current law does not allow the Erath County court at law to hear civil cases.

As proposed, S.B. 1973 expands the concurrent jurisdiction of the Erath County court at law.

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 25.1132(a), Government Code, to provide that, in addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section 25.0003 (Jurisdiction) and other law, a county court at law in Erath County has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in civil cases in which the matter in controversy, as alleged on the face of the petition, exceeds $500 but does not exceed $250,000, excluding certain interest, penalties, damages, fees, and costs and certain proceedings under Chapter 262 (Procedures in Suit by Governmental Entity to Protect Health and Safety of Child), Family Code.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2007.