By Swinford                                           H.B. No. 2019
       74R6563 CBH-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to a contract for the provision of certain services
    1-3  transported or provided by a telecommunications utility.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Article XIII, Public Utility Regulatory Act
    1-6  (Article 1446c, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by
    1-7  adding Section 93D to read as follows:
    1-8        Sec. 93D.  (a)  A contract to purchase an information service
    1-9  or to purchase software necessary to receive an information service
   1-10  that is transported or provided by a telecommunications utility may
   1-11  contain a provision authorizing an automatic renewal for not more
   1-12  than 30 days on expiration of the initial term or a renewal term of
   1-13  the contract if neither party gives the other party written notice
   1-14  of termination.
   1-15        (b)  A contract that provides for an automatic renewal for
   1-16  more than 30 days on expiration of the initial term or a renewal
   1-17  term is void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
   1-18        (c)  In this section, "information service" means furnishing
   1-19  general or specialized news or other current information, including
   1-20  financial information.
   1-21        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995, and
   1-22  applies only to a contract entered into or renewed on or after that
   1-23  date.  A contract entered into before the effective date of this
   1-24  Act and that has not been renewed after the effective date of this
    2-1  Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the contract was
    2-2  entered into, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
    2-3        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-4  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-5  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-6  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-7  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.