By Brimer H.B. No. 2897 Line and page numbers may not match official copy. Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E. A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to litigation rights of businesses located in Texas. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Business & Commerce Code is amended by adding 1-5 Chapter 19 as follows: 1-6 CHAPTER 19. BUSINESS LITIGATION. 1-7 Sec. 19.01. DEFINITION. In this chapter: 1-8 (1) "business" means all entities such as sole 1-9 proprietors, partnerships, and corporations, including all trades, 1-10 occupations, or professions carried on for the purpose of a gain, 1-11 benefit, or advantage and is engaged in commercial or financial 1-12 transactions. 1-13 Sec. 19.02. RIGHTS OF BUSINESSES OPERATING IN TEXAS. Any 1-14 business operating or located in the State of Texas shall be 1-15 afforded the following rights: 1-16 (1) Businesses operating or located in the State of 1-17 Texas shall be afforded fair and equitable access to the court 1-18 system and shall be protected from meritless lawsuits. Courts 1-19 shall review each pending dispute in which a party is a business 1-20 operating or located in the State of Texas to determine whether the 1-21 dispute is appropriate for alternative dispute resolution as 2-1 prescribed by Section 154.021, Texas Civil Practices and Remedies 2-2 Code. 2-3 (2) Businesses operating or located in the State of 2-4 Texas shall operate and maintain a safe and reasonable work 2-5 environment. At least 30 days prior to filing a suit against an 2-6 employer for a violation of this provision, an employee shall give 2-7 written notice as described herein to their employer stating the 2-8 claimed violation and providing the employer an opportunity to 2-9 cure. Any suit filed without notice having been received by an 2-10 employer shall be abated by the court until such notice has been 2-11 received and the 30 day period has expired. Notice may be provided 2-12 under this section by personal delivery or by mailing the notice to 2-13 the employer at an address the employer ordinarily receives mail. 2-14 SECTION 2. This title takes effect September 1, 1999. 2-15 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-16 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-17 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-18 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-19 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.