Honorable Jim Jackson, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2031 by Madden (Relating to the establishment of a voluntary compensation plan as an alternative to litigation.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to permit a potential defendant to create a voluntary compensation plan as an alternative to litigation in cases for an event or product which may have caused the death of two or more people, serious bodily injury to five or more people or damage to real property owned by five or more people. The bill would provide a temporary abatement of proceedings as a means to encourage settlement under certain conditions. To the extent the bill would create voluntary compensation plans that may obviate some lesser damage cases from the court dockets statewide, the fiscal implication to the courts and the state is not anticipated to be significant. The bill would take effect September 1, 2011.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council