By Brimer                                             H.B. No. 1543

         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1543:

         By Hilbert                                        C.S.H.B. No. 1543

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the finality of contested case orders rendered by state

 1-3     agencies.

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

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 2001.144(a), Government Code, is amended

 1-6     to read as follows:

 1-7           (a)  A decision in a contested case is final:

 1-8                 (1)  if a motion for rehearing is not filed on time, on

 1-9     the expiration of the period for filing a motion for rehearing;

1-10                 (2)  if a motion for rehearing is filed on time, on the

1-11     date:

1-12                       (A)  the order overruling the motion for

1-13     rehearing is rendered; or

1-14                       (B)  the motion is overruled by operation of law;

1-15     [or]

1-16                 (3)  if a state agency finds that an imminent peril to

1-17     the public health, safety, or welfare requires immediate effect of

1-18     a decision or order, on the date the decision is rendered; or

1-19                 (4)  on the date specified in the order for a case in

1-20     which all parties agree to the specified date in writing or on the

1-21     record, if the specified date is not later than the 20th day after

1-22     the date the order was rendered.

1-23           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-24           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-1     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-2     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-3     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-4     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.