SRC-TNM S.B. 923 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 923 By: Galloway Jurisprudence 3-19-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, municipalities may be made a party to a class action suit without city council approval. Upon learning that they have been entered into a class action lawsuit without their approval, cities must often devote time and money to remove themselves from such suits. S.B. 923 would allow a municipality to be entered into a class action suit as a plaintiff only by an affirmative vote of the governing body of the municipality. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 923 outlines provisions regarding the participation of a municipality in a class action suit. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 17A, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, by adding Section 17.006, as follows: Sec. 17.006. MUNICIPALITY AS PLAINTIFF IN CLASS ACTION SUIT. Authorizes a municipality to be entered into a class action suit as a plaintiff only by an affirmative vote of the governing body of the municipality. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.