By Dutton                                             H.B. No. 1119
         77R5275 AJA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to tort liability of governmental units.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1. Section 101.023, Civil Practice and Remedies Code,
 1-5     is amended to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 101.023.  LIMITATION ON AMOUNT OF LIABILITY.  Except as
 1-7     provided by Section 78.001, liability [(a)  Liability] of a
 1-8     governmental unit [the state government] under this chapter is
 1-9     limited to money damages in a maximum amount of $500,000 [$250,000]
1-10     for each person and $2 million [$500,000] for each single
1-11     occurrence for bodily injury or death and $500,000 [$100,000] for
1-12     each single occurrence for injury to or destruction of property.
1-13           [(b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), liability of a
1-14     unit of local government under this chapter is limited to money
1-15     damages in a maximum amount of $100,000 for each person and
1-16     $300,000 for each single occurrence for bodily injury or death and
1-17     $100,000 for each single occurrence for injury to or destruction of
1-18     property.]
1-19           [(c)  Liability of a municipality under this chapter is
1-20     limited to money damages in a maximum amount of $250,000 for each
1-21     person and $500,000 for each single occurrence for bodily injury or
1-22     death and $100,000 for each single occurrence for injury to or
1-23     destruction of property.]
1-24           [(d)  Except as provided by Section 78.001, liability of an
 2-1     emergency service organization under this chapter is limited to
 2-2     money damages in a maximum amount of $100,000 for each person and
 2-3     $300,000 for each single occurrence for bodily injury or death and
 2-4     $100,000 for each single occurrence for injury to or destruction of
 2-5     property.]
 2-6           SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
 2-7           (b)  The change in law made by this Act applies only to a
 2-8     cause of action that accrues on or after the effective date of this
 2-9     Act.  A cause of action that accrues before the effective date of
2-10     this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before the
2-11     effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for
2-12     that purpose.