AN ACT
 1-1     relating to the attorney general's authority to bring a suit
 1-2     against intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subsection (c), Section 252.064, Health and
 1-5     Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
 1-6           (c)  On [The attorney general, on] request of the department,
 1-7     the attorney general may institute an action in a district court
 1-8     [shall bring and conduct a suit] to collect a civil penalty under
 1-9     this section.  Any amount collected shall be remitted to the
1-10     comptroller for deposit to the credit of the general revenue fund.
1-11           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-12     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-13     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-14     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-15     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-16     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-17     passage, and it is so enacted.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 380 passed the Senate on
         February 16, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 380 passed the House on
         April 16, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 136, Nays 0, two
         present not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
         Approved:
         _______________________________
                     Date
         _______________________________
                   Governor