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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to rules adopted by the Texas Supreme Court to promote the |
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expedited resolution of a civil action. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 22.004(h), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(h) The supreme court shall adopt rules to promote the |
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prompt, efficient, and cost-effective resolution of civil |
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actions. The rules shall apply to civil actions in district |
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courts, county courts at law, and statutory probate courts in which |
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the amount in controversy, inclusive of all claims for damages of |
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any kind, whether actual or exemplary, a penalty, [attorney's
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fees,] expenses, costs, interest, or any other type of damage of any |
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kind, does not exceed $200,000 [$100,000]. Attorney's fees are not |
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included in determining the amount in controversy under this |
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subsection. The rules shall address the need for lowering discovery |
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costs in these actions and the procedure for ensuring that these |
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actions will be expedited in the civil justice system. The supreme |
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court may not adopt rules under this subsection that conflict with a |
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provision of: |
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(1) Chapter 74, Civil Practice and Remedies Code; |
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(2) the Family Code; |
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(3) the Property Code; or |
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(4) the Tax Code. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2018, the Texas Supreme |
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Court shall adopt rules necessary to implement Section 22.004(h), |
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Government Code, as amended by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |