By:  Maxey                                             H.B. No. 271
       73R1313 DLF-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the time for bringing suit on a cause of action arising
    1-3  out of a sexual assault on a child.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 16, Civil Practice and
    1-6  Remedies Code, is amended by adding Section 16.012 to read as
    1-7  follows:
    1-8        Sec. 16.012.  ACTION FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON A CHILD.
    1-9  Notwithstanding Section 16.003, a person must bring a suit for
   1-10  personal injury arising out of sexual abuse or sexual assault not
   1-11  later than 35 years after the date of the person's 18th birthday if
   1-12  the sexual abuse or sexual assault was committed against the person
   1-13  before the person reached 17 years of age.
   1-14        SECTION 2.  This Act applies to a cause of action that
   1-15  accrues before, on, or after the effective date of this Act, except
   1-16  that this Act does not apply to an action that has been held to be
   1-17  barred by Section 16.003, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, before
   1-18  the effective date of this Act.
   1-19        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-20  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-21  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-22  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-23  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   1-24  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    2-1  passage, and it is so enacted.