1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to procedures applicable in a suit filed by a landlord to
 1-3     evict a tenant and recover unpaid rent.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 24, Property Code, is amended by adding
 1-6     Section 24.0051 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 24.0051.  PROCEDURES APPLICABLE IN SUIT TO EVICT AND
 1-8     RECOVER UNPAID RENT.  (a)  In a suit filed in justice court in
 1-9     which the landlord files a sworn statement seeking judgment against
1-10     a tenant for possession of the premises and unpaid rent, personal
1-11     service on the tenant or service on the tenant under Rule 742a,
1-12     Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, is procedurally sufficient to
1-13     support a default judgment for possession of the premises and
1-14     unpaid rent.
1-15           (b)  A landlord may recover unpaid rent under this section
1-16     regardless of whether the tenant vacated the premises after the
1-17     date the landlord filed the sworn statement and before the date the
1-18     court renders judgment.
1-19           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-20           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-21     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-22     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-23     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-24     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. 3182 was passed by the House on May
         5, 1999, by a non-record vote; that the House refused to concur in
         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 3182 on May 21, 1999, and requested
         the appointment of a conference committee to consider the
         differences between the two houses; and that the House adopted the
         conference committee report on H.B. No. 3182 on May 28, 1999, by a
         non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 3182 was passed by the Senate, with
         amendments, on May 19, 1999, by a viva-voce vote; at the request of
         the House, the Senate appointed a conference committee to consider
         the differences between the two houses; and that the Senate adopted
         the conference committee report on H.B. No. 3182 on May 30, 1999,
         by a viva-voce vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor