By Uher                                               H.B. No. 3800
         76R9845 DAK-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the accrual of interest on certain judgments.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 304.005, Finance Code, is amended by
 1-5     adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:
 1-6           (c)  If judgment is rendered for a plaintiff and the
 1-7     plaintiff appeals the judgment, interest does not accrue if the
 1-8     party against whom the  judgment is rendered:
 1-9                 (1)  does not also appeal the judgment; and
1-10                 (2)  offers to pay the plaintiff the amount of the
1-11     judgment and all interest accrued to the date of the offer to pay.
1-12           (d)  Interest begins accruing on a judgment under Subsection
1-13     (c) if the party against whom the judgment is rendered:
1-14                 (1)  appeals the judgment; or
1-15                 (2)  withdraws in writing the offer to pay under
1-16     Subsection (c)(2).
1-17           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
1-18     applies only to a judgment rendered on or after that date.  A
1-19     judgment rendered before the effective date of this Act is governed
1-20     by the law applicable to the judgment immediately before the
1-21     effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for
1-22     that purpose.
1-23           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-24     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-1     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-2     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-3     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.