Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1782 by West, Royce (Relating to arbitration proceedings.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to require arbitrators, within 90 days of an arbitration award being signed, to file an arbitration disclosure with the Office of Court Administration (OCA). Additionally, any agreement of the parties to limit disclosure must be evidenced by a form signed by the parties that is to be filed with OCA. OCA must establish procedures and a fee for the late filing of an arbitration award, must compile a semi-annual list of arbitrators who are ineligible to arbitrate because of failure to timely file awards, and must establish procedures for removing an arbitrator from the ineligible list. OCA must also make information collected available on the agency’s website. According to the OCA, the requirements of the bill could be implemented within existing resources; therefore, no significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would take effect September 1, 2007.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General