AN ACT 1-1 relating to liability of a parent for property damage to a hotel 1-2 caused by a child. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Chapter 41, Family Code, is amended by adding 1-5 Section 41.0025 to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 41.0025. LIABILITY FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE TO AN INN OR 1-7 HOTEL. (a) Notwithstanding Section 41.002, recovery of damages by 1-8 an inn or hotel for wilful and malicious conduct is limited to 1-9 actual damages, not to exceed $25,000 per occurrence, plus court 1-10 costs and reasonable attorney's fees. 1-11 (b) In this section "occurrence" means one incident on a 1-12 single day in one hotel room. The term does not include incidents 1-13 in separate rooms or incidents that occur on different days. 1-14 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and 1-15 applies only to property damage that occurs on or after that date. 1-16 Damage that occurs before the effective date of this Act is 1-17 governed by the law in effect on the date the damage occurred, and 1-18 the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. 1-19 SECTION 3. 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. S.B. No. 243 _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I hereby certify that S.B. No. 243 passed the Senate on February 26, 1997, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that the Senate concurred in House amendment on April 23, 1997, by a viva-voce vote. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate I hereby certify that S.B. No. 243 passed the House, with amendment, on April 18, 1997, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Approved: _______________________________ Date _______________________________ Governor