82R9854 CAE-F
By: Perry H.B. No. 2479
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to alternative dispute resolution systems established by
counties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 152.001, Civil Practices and Remedies
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 152.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "alternative
dispute resolution system" means an informal forum in which
mediation, conciliation, or arbitration is used to resolve disputes
among individuals, entities, and units of government, including
those having an ongoing relationship such as relatives, neighbors,
landlords and tenants, employees and employers, and merchants and
consumers.
SECTION 2. Section 152.002(a), Civil Practices and Remedies
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The commissioners court of a county by order may
establish an alternative dispute resolution system for the
peaceable and expeditious resolution of [citizen] disputes.
SECTION 3. Section 152.003, Civil Practices and Remedies
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 152.003. REFERRAL OF CASES. A judge of a district
court, county court, statutory county court, probate court, or
justice of the peace court in a county in which an alternative
dispute resolution system has been established may, on motion of a
party or on the judge's or justice's own motion, refer a civil or, on
the written consent of the state, a criminal case to the system.
Referral under this section does not prejudice the case.
SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
a case referred to a county alternative dispute resolution system
on or after the effective date of this Act. A case referred before
the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when
the case is referred, and the former law is continued in effect for
that purpose.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2011.