By Davis of Dallas                                    H.B. No. 2186
         77R6767 AJA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to charges assessed by a landlord at the end of a lease
 1-3     term.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 92, Property Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 92.015 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 92.015.  ASSESSMENT OF CHARGES AT END OF LEASE TERM. (a)
 1-8     A landlord may not assess a charge at the end of a lease term or
 1-9     after a tenant surrenders the premises unless:
1-10                 (1)  the lease specifies:
1-11                       (A)  that the charge may be assessed at the end
1-12     of the lease term or after the tenant surrenders the premises;
1-13                       (B)  the conditions under which the charge may be
1-14     assessed; and
1-15                       (C)  the method by which the charge is to be
1-16     computed; and
1-17                 (2)  before the lease is entered into, the landlord
1-18     informs the tenant orally or in a writing provided to the tenant
1-19     separately from the lease that the charge may be assessed at the
1-20     end of the lease term or when the tenant surrenders the premises.
1-21           (b)  This section does not affect a landlord's right to
1-22     recover  the cost of repairing damage to property covered by a
1-23     lease.
1-24           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and
 2-1     applies only to a residential lease entered into or renewed or
 2-2     extended on or after that date.