1-1 By: Hill (Senate Sponsor - Lucio) H.B. No. 2408 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 1999; 1-3 May 10, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on State 1-4 Affairs; May 14, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-5 Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 14, 1999, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to notice to tenants of certain changes in policy by a 1-9 landlord. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 92, Property Code, is 1-12 amended by adding Section 92.013 to read as follows: 1-13 Sec. 92.013. NOTICE OF RULE OR POLICY CHANGE AFFECTING 1-14 TENANT'S PERSONAL PROPERTY. (a) A landlord shall give prior 1-15 written notice to a tenant regarding a landlord rule or policy 1-16 change that is not included in the lease agreement and that will 1-17 affect any personal property owned by the tenant that is located 1-18 outside the tenant's dwelling, including any change in vehicle 1-19 towing rules or policies. 1-20 (b) The notice must be given in person or by mail to the 1-21 affected tenant. Notice in person may be by personal delivery to 1-22 the tenant or any person residing at the tenant's dwelling who is 1-23 16 years of age or older or by personal delivery to the tenant's 1-24 dwelling and affixing the notice to the inside of the main entry 1-25 door. Notice by mail may be by regular mail, by registered mail, 1-26 or by certified mail, return receipt requested. If the dwelling 1-27 has no mailbox and has a keyless bolting device, alarm system, or 1-28 dangerous animal that prevents the landlord from entering the 1-29 premises to leave the notice on the inside of the main entry door, 1-30 the landlord may securely affix the notice on the outside of the 1-31 main entry door. 1-32 (c) A landlord who fails to give notice as required by this 1-33 section is liable to the tenant for any expense incurred by the 1-34 tenant as a result of the landlord's failure to give the notice. 1-35 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 1-36 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-37 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-38 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-39 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-40 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 1-41 * * * * *