AN ACT

 1-1     relating to the status of certain oil and gas workers or services

 1-2     providers as independent contractors.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 406.123, Labor Code, is amended by adding

 1-5     Subsection (h) to read as follows:

 1-6           (h)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a person who performs

 1-7     work or provides a service for an oil or gas well operator and who

 1-8     is an independent contractor that has no employees shall be treated

 1-9     in the same manner as an independent contractor with employees and

1-10     is not entitled to coverage under the general contractor's workers'

1-11     compensation insurance policy unless the independent contractor and

1-12     the general contractor enter into an agreement under this section.

1-13           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-14           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-15     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-16     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-17     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-18     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 445 passed the Senate on

         April 9, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 445 passed the House on

         May 1, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

         Approved:

         _______________________________

                     Date

         _______________________________

                   Governor