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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to alternative dispute resolution systems established by |
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counties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 152.001, Civil Practices and Remedies |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 152.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "alternative |
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dispute resolution system" means an informal forum in which |
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mediation, conciliation, or arbitration is used to resolve disputes |
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among individuals, entities, and units of government, including |
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those having an ongoing relationship such as relatives, neighbors, |
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landlords and tenants, employees and employers, and merchants and |
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consumers. |
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SECTION 2. Section 152.002(a), Civil Practices and Remedies |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The commissioners court of a county by order may |
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establish an alternative dispute resolution system for the |
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peaceable and expeditious resolution of [citizen] disputes. |
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SECTION 3. Section 152.003, Civil Practices and Remedies |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 152.003. REFERRAL OF CASES. A judge of a district |
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court, county court, statutory county court, probate court, or |
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justice of the peace court in a county in which an alternative |
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dispute resolution system has been established may, on motion of a |
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party or on the judge's or justice's own motion, refer a civil or, on |
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the written consent of the state, a criminal case to the system. |
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Referral under this section does not prejudice the case. |
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SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a case referred to a county alternative dispute resolution system |
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on or after the effective date of this Act. A case referred before |
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the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when |
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the case is referred, and the former law is continued in effect for |
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that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |