1-1 By: Dunnam (Senate Sponsor - Ellis) H.B. No. 1805
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 13, 1999;
1-3 May 14, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on
1-4 Jurisprudence; May 14, 1999, reported favorably by the following
1-5 vote: Yeas 3, Nays 0; May 14, 1999, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to the exemption of insurance benefits from garnishment,
1-9 attachment, execution, or other seizure.
1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11 SECTION 1. Section 42.002(a), Property Code, is amended to
1-12 read as follows:
1-13 (a) The following personal property is exempt under Section
1-14 42.001(a):
1-15 (1) home furnishings, including family heirlooms;
1-16 (2) provisions for consumption;
1-17 (3) farming or ranching vehicles and implements;
1-18 (4) tools, equipment, books, and apparatus, including
1-19 boats and motor vehicles used in a trade or profession;
1-20 (5) wearing apparel;
1-21 (6) jewelry not to exceed 25 percent of the aggregate
1-22 limitations prescribed by Section 42.001(a);
1-23 (7) two firearms;
1-24 (8) athletic and sporting equipment, including
1-25 bicycles;
1-26 (9) a two-wheeled, three-wheeled, or four-wheeled
1-27 motor vehicle for each member of a family or single adult who holds
1-28 a driver's license or who does not hold a driver's license but who
1-29 relies on another person to operate the vehicle for the benefit of
1-30 the nonlicensed person;
1-31 (10) the following animals and forage on hand for
1-32 their consumption:
1-33 (A) two horses, mules, or donkeys and a saddle,
1-34 blanket, and bridle for each;
1-35 (B) 12 head of cattle;
1-36 (C) 60 head of other types of livestock; and
1-37 (D) 120 fowl; and
1-38 (11) household pets[; and]
1-39 [(12) the present value of any life insurance policy
1-40 to the extent that a member of the family of the insured or a
1-41 dependent of a single insured adult claiming the exemption is a
1-42 beneficiary of the policy].
1-43 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the
1-44 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-45 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-46 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-47 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-48 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-49 passage, and it is so enacted.
1-50 * * * * *