By Hill                                               H.B. No. 2408
         76R7769 WP-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to notice to tenants of certain changes in policy by a
 1-3     landlord.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 92, Property Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 92.013 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 92.013.  NOTICE OF POLICY CHANGE AFFECTING TENANT'S
 1-8     PERSONAL PROPERTY.  (a)  A landlord shall give prior written notice
 1-9     by certified  mail, return receipt requested, to a tenant regarding
1-10     a change in policy not included in the lease agreement that will
1-11     affect any personal property owned by the tenant that is located
1-12     outside the tenant's dwelling, including any change in automobile
1-13     towing policies.
1-14           (b)  A tenant to whom a landlord fails to give notice as
1-15     required by Subsection (a) may deduct from the tenant's rent,
1-16     without necessity of judicial action, any expense incurred as a
1-17     result of the landlord's failure to give the notice.
1-18           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-19           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-20     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-21     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-22     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-23     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.