Opinion No.

Honorable Carl A. Parker Chairman Subcommittee on Insurance Texas State Senate P. O. Box 12068 Austin, Texas 78711

Re: Whether V.T.C.S. article 224 et seq., the Texas general arbitration statute, violates article 1, section 13 of the Texas Constitution, the open courts amendment (RQ-I99)

Dear Senator Parker:

You have requested our opinion as to whether V.T.C.S. article 224 et seq., the Texas general arbitration statute, violates article 1, section 13 of the Texas Constitution, the "open courts" provision. Article 224, first enacted in 1965, provides:

A written agreement to submit any existing…