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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the jurisdiction of and representation in the county, |
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justice, and small claims courts in civil matters. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subsection (a), Section 26.042, Government Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A county court has concurrent jurisdiction with the |
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justice courts in civil cases in which the matter in controversy |
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exceeds $200 in value but does not exceed $10,000 [$5,000], |
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exclusive of interest. |
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SECTION 2. Section 27.031, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) In addition to the jurisdiction and powers provided by |
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the constitution and other law, the justice court has original |
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jurisdiction of: |
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(1) civil matters in which exclusive jurisdiction is |
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not in the district or county court and in which the amount in |
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controversy is not more than $10,000 [$5,000], exclusive of |
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interest; |
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(2) cases of forcible entry and detainer; and |
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(3) foreclosure of mortgages and enforcement of liens |
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on personal property in cases in which the amount in controversy is |
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otherwise within the justice court's jurisdiction. |
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(c) A corporation need not be represented by an attorney in |
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justice court. |
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SECTION 3. Subsection (a), Section 28.003, Government Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The small claims court has concurrent jurisdiction with |
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the justice court in actions by any person for the recovery of money |
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in which the amount involved, exclusive of costs, does not exceed |
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$10,000 [$5,000]. |
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SECTION 4. This Act applies only to a cause of action filed |
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on or after the effective date of this Act. A cause of action filed |
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before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in |
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effect at the time the cause of action was filed, and that law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |