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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 qualifications of judges and |
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justices of the peace for, certain courts. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 24.007(b), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) A district court has original jurisdiction of a civil |
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matter in which the amount in controversy is more than $10,000 |
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[$500], exclusive of interest. |
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SECTION 2. Section 25.0003(c), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, a |
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statutory county court exercising civil jurisdiction concurrent |
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with the constitutional jurisdiction of the county court has |
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concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in: |
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(1) civil cases in which the matter in controversy |
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exceeds $10,000 [$500] but does not exceed $200,000, excluding |
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interest, statutory or punitive damages and penalties, and |
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attorney's fees and costs, as alleged on the face of the petition; |
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and |
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(2) appeals of final rulings and decisions of the |
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division of workers' compensation of the Texas Department of |
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Insurance regarding workers' compensation claims, regardless of |
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the amount in controversy. |
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SECTION 3. Section 25.0014, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 25.0014. QUALIFICATIONS OF JUDGE. The judge of a |
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statutory county court must: |
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(1) be at least 30 [25] years of age; |
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(2) be a United States citizen and have resided in the |
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county for at least two years before election or appointment; and |
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(3) be a licensed attorney in this state who has |
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practiced law or served as a judge of a court in this state, or both |
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combined, for the four years preceding election or appointment, |
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unless otherwise provided for by law. |
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SECTION 4. Section 25.0033, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 25.0033. QUALIFICATIONS OF JUDGE. The judge of a |
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statutory probate court must: |
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(1) be at least 30 [25] years of age; |
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(2) be a United States citizen and have resided in the |
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county for at least two years before election or appointment; and |
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(3) be a licensed attorney in this state who has |
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practiced law or served as a judge of a court in this state, or both |
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combined, for the five years preceding election or appointment, |
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unless otherwise provided for by law. |
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SECTION 5. 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 $20,000 [$10,000], |
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exclusive of interest. |
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SECTION 6. 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 $20,000 [$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 7. Section 30.00006(c), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) A municipal judge must: |
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(1) be a resident of this state; |
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(2) be a citizen of the United States; |
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(3) be a licensed attorney in good standing; [and] |
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(4) have eight [two] or more years of experience in the |
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practice of law or as a judge of a court in this state, or both |
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combined, preceding election or appointment; and |
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(5) be at least 25 years of age. |
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SECTION 8. Section 26.042(d), Government Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 9. Sections 25.0014, 25.0033, and 30.00006(c), |
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Government Code, as amended by this Act, and Section 27.007, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act, apply only to a judge or |
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justice of the peace who is elected or appointed on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. A judge or justice of the peace elected |
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or appointed before the effective date of this Act continues to |
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serve for the term to which the judge or justice of the peace was |
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elected or appointed unless otherwise removed as provided by law. |
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SECTION 10. Sections 24.007(b), 25.0003(c), 26.042(a), and |
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27.031(a), Government Code, as amended by this Act, and the repeal |
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of Section 26.042(d), Government Code, by this Act, apply only to a |
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cause of action filed on or after the effective date of this Act. A |
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cause of action filed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect immediately before that date, and that |
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law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 11. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |