76R10732 PAM-F                           
         By Grusendorf                                         H.B. No. 3182
         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3182:
         By Corte                                          C.S.H.B. No. 3182
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 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.