BILL ANALYSIS


                                                         S.B. 488
                                                    By: Wentworth
                                                    Jurisprudence
                                                         02-21-95
                                       Committee Report (Amended)
BACKGROUND

Section 53.021, Texas Property Code, establishes a statutory lien
against real property for surveying services under certain
circumstances.  However, the statute does not specify that this
statutory lien is in addition to any contractual lien that may
exist as agreed upon by the surveyor and the property owner.

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 488 provides that a surveyor can secure payment
for surveying services by means of a contractual lien on real
property.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 53.021, Property Code, by adding
Subsection (e), to provide that a lien created by Subsection (c)
does not prevent a surveyor or engineer from acquiring, recording,
and enforcing, as provided by applicable law, a contractual lien on
real property to secure payment for surveying services or
engineering relating to the real property.

SECTION 2. Effective date:  September 1, 1995.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.