By Junell, et al.                                      H.B. No. 768

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to remedies in an action alleging discrimination against

 1-3     an employee based on a claim for workers' compensation benefits.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 451.002, Labor Code, is amended by adding

 1-6     Subsection (d) to read as follows:

 1-7           (d)  For purposes of this section only, "reasonable damages"

 1-8     does not include damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish,

 1-9     loss associated with disfigurement, or loss of companionship or

1-10     consortium.

1-11           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and

1-12     applies only to a cause of action that accrues on or after the

1-13     effective date of this Act.  An action that accrues before the

1-14     effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when

1-15     the action accrued, and the former law is continued in effect for

1-16     that purpose.

1-17           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.