Sec. 152.003. REFERRAL OF CASES. (a) 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, if the system accepts criminal cases and on the request of an attorney representing the state, a criminal case to the system regardless of whether the defendant in the criminal case has been formally charged. Referral under this section does not prejudice the case.

(b) Before requesting a referral of a criminal case under this section, an attorney representing the state must obtain the consent of the victim and the defendant to the referral.

(c) A criminal case may not be referred to the system if the defendant is charged with or convicted of an offense listed in Article 42A.054(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, or convicted of an offense, the judgment for which contains an affirmative finding under Article 42A.054(c) or (d), Code of Criminal Procedure.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 167, Sec. 3.16(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 509, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Amended by:

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 781 (S.B. 1237), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 770 (H.B. 2299), Sec. 2.03, eff. January 1, 2017.