By Janek H.B. No. 1515 77R3186 YDB-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the recovery of damages by a parent, managing 1-3 conservator, or guardian in a suit brought by a person who was 1-4 younger than 18 at the time the cause of action accrued. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 16, Civil Practice and 1-7 Remedies Code, is amended by adding Section 16.0035 to read as 1-8 follows: 1-9 Sec. 16.0035. EXCEPTION TO LIMITATIONS PERIOD FOR PARENT, 1-10 MANAGING CONSERVATOR, OR GUARDIAN OF MINOR. (a) An individual is 1-11 entitled to join a suit brought by a claimant for personal injury 1-12 if: 1-13 (1) at the time the cause of action that is the basis 1-14 for the suit accrued: 1-15 (A) the individual was the parent, managing 1-16 conservator, or guardian of the claimant; and 1-17 (B) the claimant was under a legal disability 1-18 under Section 16.001(a)(1); 1-19 (2) the claimant brought the suit within the 1-20 limitations period after the disability was removed; and 1-21 (3) the individual incurred medical expenses on behalf 1-22 of the claimant and has not recovered damages for those expenses in 1-23 a previous suit. 1-24 (b) An individual who is entitled to join a suit under 2-1 Subsection (a) may recover the damages described by Subsection 2-2 (a)(3) in the individual's own name without regard to whether the 2-3 limitations period has expired in relation to the individual's own 2-4 cause of action. 2-5 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and 2-6 applies only to a cause of action brought on or after that date. A 2-7 cause of action brought before the effective date of this Act is 2-8 governed by the law in effect at the time the cause of action was 2-9 brought, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.