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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the jurisdiction of county and justice courts. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 26.042(a), Government Code, is amended |
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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 $15,000 [$10,000], |
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exclusive of interest. |
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SECTION 2. Section 27.031(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as 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 $15,000 [$10,000], exclusive of |
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interest; |
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(2) cases of forcible entry and detainer; |
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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; and |
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(4) cases arising under Chapter 707, Transportation |
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Code, outside a municipality's territorial limits. |
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SECTION 3. Section 27.060(a), Government Code, as effective |
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May 1, 2013, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A justice court shall conduct proceedings in a small |
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claims case, as that term is defined by the supreme court, in |
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accordance with rules of civil procedure promulgated by the supreme |
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court to ensure the fair, expeditious, and inexpensive resolution |
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of small claims cases. The definition of a small claims case must |
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provide that the amount in controversy for small claims cases is the |
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maximum amount established by Section 27.031(a)(1). |
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SECTION 4. Not later than October 1, 2013, the Supreme Court |
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of Texas shall adopt the rules necessary to implement the changes in |
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law made by this Act. |
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SECTION 5. This Act applies only to a cause of action filed |
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on or after October 1, 2013. A cause of action filed before that |
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date is governed by the law in effect immediately before that date, |
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and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |