By:  Carona                                           S.B. No. 1337
         99S0813/1                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                                       AN ACT
 1-1     relating to arbitration of disputes in the workplace.
 1-2           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-3           SECTION 1.  Section 171.001, Civil Practice and Remedies
 1-4     Code, is amended to read as follows:
 1-5           Sec. 171.001.  Arbitration Agreements Valid.  (a)  A written
 1-6     agreement to arbitrate is valid and enforceable if the agreement is
 1-7     to arbitrate a controversy that:
 1-8                 (1)  exists at the time of the agreement; or
 1-9                 (2)  arises between the parties after the date of the
1-10     agreement.
1-11           (b)  A party may revoke the agreement only on a ground that
1-12     exists at law or in equity for the revocation of a contract.
1-13           (c)  An agreement between an employer and an at-will employee
1-14     to arbitrate a controversy that arises out of the employment
1-15     relationship is valid and enforceable if the agreement complies
1-16     with Subsection (a).
1-17           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-18           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-19     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-20     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-21     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-22     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.