By Eiland                                              H.B. No. 739
         76R713 JMM-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to workers' compensation lifetime income benefits for
 1-3     certain compensable injuries.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 408.161(a), Labor Code, is amended to
 1-6     read as follows:
 1-7           (a)  Lifetime income benefits are paid until the death of the
 1-8     employee for:
 1-9                 (1)  total and permanent loss of sight in both eyes;
1-10                 (2)  loss of both feet at or above the ankle;
1-11                 (3)  loss of both hands at or above the wrist;
1-12                 (4)  loss of one foot at or above the ankle and the
1-13     loss of one hand at or above the wrist;
1-14                 (5)  an injury to the spine that results in permanent
1-15     and complete paralysis of both arms, both legs, or one arm and one
1-16     leg; [or]
1-17                 (6)  a physically traumatic injury to the brain
1-18     resulting in incurable insanity or imbecility; or
1-19                 (7)  an injury resulting in a disabling neurological or
1-20     psychiatric condition that substantially limits at least one major
1-21     life activity of the employee.
1-22           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
1-23     applies only to a claim for workers' compensation benefits filed
1-24     with the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission on or after that
 2-1     date.  A claim filed before the effective date of this Act is
 2-2     governed by the law in effect on the date the claim was filed, and
 2-3     the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
 2-4           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-5     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-6     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-7     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-8     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.