SB 15  

Janek
Nixon

Relating to civil claims involving exposure to asbestos and silica.

Remarks:

ASBESTOS - Establish objective medical criteria for screening unimpaired asbestos and mixed dust claims currently pending or filed in the future in Texas courts

Bill History:

05-03-05 H Voted favorably from committee on House Civil Practices
05-04-05 H Reported favorably from committee on House Civil Practices
05-10-05 H Set on the House Calendar

HB 8  

Nixon

Relating to civil claims involving exposure to asbestos and silica.

Remarks:

ASBESTOS - Establish objective medical criteria for screening unimpaired asbestos and mixed dust claims currently pending or filed in the future in Texas courts. Companion by Senator Kyle Janek.

Bill History:

02-24-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Civil Practices
03-16-05 H Meeting set for 2:00 P.M. or Adj., E1.010 House Civil Practices
03-16-05 H Committee action pending House Civil Practices

HB 107   

Van Arsdale

Relating to prohibiting actions brought against certain persons alleging injury related to an individual's weight gain, obesity, or any health condition associated with weight gain or obesity.

Bill History:

05-05-05 H Laid out for discussion
05-05-05 H Committee substitute adopted
05-05-05 H Passed to third reading

HB 755  

Gattis
Duncan

Relating to procedures relating to the doctrine of forum non conveniens in a civil cause of act.

Companions:

SB 294 (I)    

Remarks:

FORUM NON CONVENIENS - this legislation closes a loophole, and makes it easier for judges to dismiss cases that should be brought in another forum.

Bill History:

05-02-05 S Reported from committee as substituted Senate State Affairs
05-02-05 S Recommended for Local/Uncontested Calendar
05-10-05 S Set on the Local Calendar

HB 1158  

Goodman

Relating to the compensation of state judges.

Remarks:

JUDICIAL COMPENSATION - (SB368, HB1001, HB1158) - Currently, judicial salary levels are pegged to the Supreme Court. Court of appeals justices make 95% of the Supreme Court salary, district judges 90% (plus local supplements in some counties). The effect of local supplements is that some district judges make more than the Supreme Court. Senator Duncan and Representative Luna’s legislation sets the district judge’s salary at $125,000 and provides that salaries for appellate justices shall be 110% and for supreme court justices 120% of the district judge base. In addition, the proposal ties legislative retirement to the governor’s salary, instead of that of a district court judge. The proposal caps the local supplement that counties can pay a district judge and imposes a $35 filing fee for judicial salaries.

Bill History:

02-16-05 H Filed
02-17-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Judiciary

HB 1217  

Eiland

Relating to enforcement of certain insurance provisions in construction contracts.

Remarks:

INDEMNITY/ADDITIONAL INSURED - This bill voids additional insured requirements in construction contracts.

Bill History:

04-04-05 H Committee action pending House Insurance
04-27-05 H Voted favorably from committee as substituted House Insurance
05-02-05 H Reported from committee as substituted House Insurance

HB 1294  

Rose

Relating to permissive interlocutory appeals in civil actions.

Companions:

SB 494 (I)    

Remarks:

INTERLOCUTORY APPEAL - This bill is similar to H.B. 1133, but it allows a trial court (not just a district court), on a motion by a party or on its own motion, to permit a permissive interlocutory appeal.

Bill History:

03-07-05 H Committee action pending House Civil Practices
05-03-05 H Voted favorably from committee as substituted House Civil Practices
05-06-05 H Reported from committee as substituted House Civil Practices

HB 1477  

Keffer, Bill

Relating to jury service.

Remarks:

JURY SERVICE – Higher jury pay and better working conditions for jurors.

Bill History:

04-18-05 H Meeting set for 2:00 P.M. or Adj., E2.028 House Judiciary
04-18-05 H Committee action pending House Judiciary
05-05-05 H Voted favorably from committee as substituted House Judiciary

HB 2842

Chisum

Relating to the criminal penalty for providing false information from outside auditors.

Bill History:

04-25-05 H Voted favorably from committee as substituted House State Affairs
04-29-05 H Reported from committee as substituted House State Affairs
05-09-05 H Set on the House Calendar

SB 5  

Staples

Relating to the continuation and operation of the worker's compensation system and the Department of Workers' Compensation.

Remarks:

STATUTORY EMPLOYER -. This is the sunset bill for the TWCC, and the filed version of this bill leaves the Etie decision in place.

Bill History:

03-29-05 H Referred to House Committee on House Business and Industry
05-04-05 H Meeting set for On adj., Desk #103 House Business and Industry
05-04-05 H Voted favorably from committee as substituted House Business and Industry

SB 294    

Duncan

Relating to procedures relating to the doctrine of forum non conviens in a civil cause of action.

Companions:

HB 755 (I)    

Remarks:

FORUM NON CONVENIENS - TCJL supports this legislation. It closes a loophole, and makes it easier for judges to dismiss cases that should be brought in another forum.

Bill History:

03-07-05 S Meeting set for 1:30 P.M. or Adj., Senate C...Senate State Affairs
03-07-05 S Voted favorably from committee as substituted Senate State Affairs
03-09-05 S Reported from committee as substituted Senate State Affairs

SB 368  

Duncan
Hartnett

Relating to the compensation of state judges and to the computation of retirement benefits for members of the elected class of the Employees Retirement System.

Companions:

HB 1001 (I)    

Remarks:

JUDICIAL COMPENSATION - (SB368, HB1001, HB1158) - Currently, judicial salary levels are pegged to the Supreme Court. Court of appeals justices make 95% of the Supreme Court salary, district judges 90% (plus local supplements in some counties). The effect of local supplements is that some district judges make more than the Supreme Court. Senator Duncan and Representative Luna’s legislation sets the district judge’s salary at $125,000 and provides that salaries for appellate justices shall be 110% and for supreme court justices 120% of the district judge base. In addition, the proposal ties legislative retirement to the governor’s salary, instead of that of a district court judge. The proposal caps the local supplement that counties can pay a district judge and imposes a $35 filing fee for judicial salaries.

Bill History:

04-11-05 H Committee action pending House Judiciary
04-18-05 H Voted favorably from committee as substituted House Judiciary
04-25-05 H Reported from committee as substituted House Judiciary

SB 890  

Williams

Relating to the amount of recovery in a civil actions.

Remarks:

SETTLEMENT CREDIT - Restores the dollar-for-dollar option.

Bill History:

04-13-05 S Passed (Vote: Y: 30/N: 0)
04-14-05 H Received in the House - Not referred
04-18-05 H Referred to House Committee on House Civil Practices

SJR 16  

Duncan

Relating to appointments to fill vacancies in certain judicial offices and for nonpartisan retention elections for those offices.

Companions:

HJR 85 (I)    

Remarks:

JUDICIAL SELECTION - This proposed constitution amendment would provide for the appointment of appellate and district judges and their retention in nonpartisan retention elections.

Bill History:

02-16-05 S Filed
03-01-05 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Jurisprudence