By Goolsby                                              H.B. No. 29
         76R1185 DAK-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the statute of limitations for bringing an action for
 1-3     the specific performance of a real estate sales contract.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 16, Civil Practice and
 1-6     Remedies Code, is amended by adding Section 16.038 to read as
 1-7     follows:
 1-8           Sec. 16.038.  SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE.  A person must bring suit
 1-9     for the specific performance of a real estate sales contract not
1-10     later than one year after the day the cause of action accrues.
1-11           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
1-12     applies only to a cause of action that accrues on or after that
1-13     date.  An action that accrued before the effective date of this Act
1-14     is governed by the law applicable to the action immediately before
1-15     the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect
1-16     for 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.