By: Culberson H.B. No. 884 73R3004 DAK-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the liability of a physician for certain health care 1-3 liability claims. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. The Medical Liability and Insurance Improvement 1-6 Act of Texas (Article 4590i, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is 1-7 amended by adding Subchapter M to read as follows: 1-8 SUBCHAPTER M. LIABILITY 1-9 Sec. 13.01. PHYSICIAN LIABLE ONLY FOR OWN PERCENTAGE OF 1-10 RESPONSIBILITY. (a) Notwithstanding Section 33.013(b), Civil 1-11 Practice and Remedies Code, a physician who is a liable defendant 1-12 in a health care liability claim against the physician is liable to 1-13 the claimant only for the percentage of the damages found by the 1-14 trier of fact equal to the physician's percentage of responsibility 1-15 with respect to the damages allowed on the claim. 1-16 (b) In this section, "claimant," "liable defendant," and 1-17 "percentage of responsibility" have the meanings assigned those 1-18 terms by Section 33.011, Civil Practice and Remedies Code. 1-19 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1993, and 1-20 applies only to a cause of action accruing on or after that date. 1-21 A cause of action accruing before the effective date of this Act is 1-22 governed by the law in effect at the time the action accrued and 1-23 that law is continued in effect for that purpose. 1-24 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-1 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-2 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-3 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-4 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.