By Culberson H.B. No. 554 75R1737 MLS-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the distribution of exemplary damages to the permanent 1-3 school fund. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 41, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 41.014 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 41.014. DISTRIBUTION OF AWARD. (a) Notwithstanding 1-8 any contractual agreement between a claimant and the claimant's 1-9 attorney, a court shall order an award of exemplary damages paid as 1-10 follows: 1-11 (1) 15 percent to the claimant; 1-12 (2) 10 percent to the claimant's attorney; and 1-13 (3) 75 percent to the permanent school fund. 1-14 (b) The provisions of this section may not be made known to 1-15 the jury through any means, including voir dire, introduction into 1-16 evidence, or instruction. 1-17 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and 1-18 applies only to a cause of action that accrues on or after that 1-19 date. An action that accrues before the effective date of this Act 1-20 is governed by the law in effect at the time the action accrued, 1-21 and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. 1-22 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-23 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-24 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.