1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to preparation of an abstract of judgment in an action to
 1-3     establish a lien on real property.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 52.002(a), Property Code, is amended to
 1-6     read as follows:
 1-7           (a)  The attorney [On application] of a person in whose favor
 1-8     a judgment is rendered in a small claims court or a justice court
 1-9     may prepare an abstract of judgment or on application of that
1-10     person or of that person's agent, attorney, or assignee, the judge
1-11     or justice of the peace who rendered the judgment shall prepare and
1-12     deliver to the applicant an abstract of the judgment.
1-13           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
1-14     applies to an action filed before, on, or after that date.
1-15           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-16     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-17     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-18     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-19     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1174 was passed by the House on March
         25, 1999, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in
         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 1174 on May 8, 1999, by a non-record
         vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1174 was passed by the Senate, with
         amendments, on May 6, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
         0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor