By Uresti                                             H.B. No. 1904
         77R7282 JSA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the period covered by a legislative continuance in a
 1-3     civil or criminal suit.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 30.003(b), Civil Practice and Remedies
 1-6     Code, is amended to read as follows:
 1-7           (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), at any time within
 1-8     30 days of a date when the legislature is to be in session, at any
 1-9     time during a legislative session, or when the legislature sits as
1-10     a constitutional convention, the court on application shall
1-11     continue a case in which a party applying for the continuance or
1-12     the attorney for that party is a member of the legislature and will
1-13     be or is attending a legislative session.  The court shall continue
1-14     the case until after the 45th day [30 days] after the date on which
1-15     the legislature adjourns.
1-16           SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a
1-17     continuance granted under Section 30.003, Civil Practice and
1-18     Remedies Code, that is in effect on the effective date of this Act.
1-19           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-20     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-21     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-22     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-23     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.