By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 57

(In the Senate - Filed November 13, 2006; January 23, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Jurisprudence; February 19, 2007, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; February 19, 2007, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 57 By: Harris

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the priority given to the hearing by trial courts of certain ad valorem tax matters.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subsection (a), Section 23.101, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The trial courts of this state shall regularly and frequently set hearings and trials of pending matters, giving preference to hearings and trials of the following:

(1) temporary injunctions;

(2) criminal actions, with the following actions given preference over other criminal actions:

(A) criminal actions against defendants who are detained in jail pending trial;

(B) criminal actions involving a charge that a person committed an act of family violence, as defined by Section 71.004, Family Code; and

(C) an offense under:

(i) Section 21.11, Penal Code;

(ii) Chapter 22, Penal Code, if the victim of the alleged offense is younger than 17 years of age;

(iii) Section 25.02, Penal Code, if the victim of the alleged offense is younger than 17 years of age; or

(iv) Section 25.06, Penal Code;

(3) election contests and suits under the Election Code;

(4) orders for the protection of the family under Subtitle B, Title 4, Family Code;

(5) appeals of final rulings and decisions of the division of workers' compensation of the Texas Department of Insurance regarding workers' compensation claims and claims under the Federal Employers' Liability Act and the Jones Act;

(6) appeals of final orders of the commissioner of the General Land Office under Section 51.3021, Natural Resources Code; [and]

(7) actions in which the claimant has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, other malignant asbestos-related cancer, malignant silica-related cancer, or acute silicosis; and

(8) appeals brought under Section 42.01 or 42.015, Tax Code, of orders of appraisal review boards of appraisal districts established for counties with a population of less than 175,000.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

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