S.B. No. 820
                                        AN ACT
    1-1  relating to free transcripts of statements of facts for appeals in
    1-2  which an affidavit of inability to pay costs has been filed.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Chapter 13, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is
    1-5  amended by adding Section 13.003 to read as follows:
    1-6        Sec. 13.003.  FREE TRANSCRIPT OF STATEMENT OF FACTS ON
    1-7  APPEAL.  (a)  A court reporter shall provide without cost a
    1-8  transcript of the statement of facts for appealing a judgment from
    1-9  the court only if:
   1-10              (1)  an affidavit of inability to pay the cost of the
   1-11  appeal has been filed under the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure;
   1-12  and
   1-13              (2)  the trial judge finds:
   1-14                    (A)  the appeal is not frivolous; and
   1-15                    (B)  the statement of facts is needed to decide
   1-16  the issue presented by the appeal.
   1-17        (b)  In determining whether an appeal is frivolous, a judge
   1-18  may consider whether the appellant has presented a substantial
   1-19  question for appellate review.
   1-20        SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
   1-21        (b)  This Act applies only to an appeal filed on or after the
   1-22  effective date of this Act.  An appeal filed before the effective
   1-23  date of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately
   1-24  before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in
    2-1  effect for that purpose.
    2-2        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-3  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-4  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-5  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-6  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.