By: Harris S.B. No. 202 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to hospital liens on certain recoveries in civil actions. 1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-3 SECTION 1. Chapter 55, Property Code, is amended by adding 1-4 Section 55.0045 to read as follows: 1-5 Sec. 55.0045. PHYSICIAN'S CHARGES. (a) The lien may also 1-6 include the amount of a physician's charges for services provided 1-7 to the injured individual in the hospital's emergency room during 1-8 the period described by Section 55.004(a). 1-9 (b) At the request of a physician, a hospital may act on 1-10 behalf of the physician with respect to securing and discharging 1-11 the lien. 1-12 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 1-13 SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only 1-14 to services rendered by a physician on or after the effective date 1-15 of this Act. Services rendered before the effective date of this 1-16 Act are governed by the law as it existed immediately before the 1-17 effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for 1-18 this purpose. 1-19 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 1-20 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-21 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-22 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-23 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.