By Zaffirini                                           S.B. No. 548
         77R5883 JD-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the appeal of a final court judgment sustaining or
 1-3     negating certain suspensions of a driver's license.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 524, Transportation Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 524.045 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 524.045.  APPEAL OF FINAL COURT JUDGMENT. (a)  In the
 1-8     manner provided for civil actions generally, a final judgment of a
 1-9     county court, county court at law, or district court under this
1-10     subchapter may be appealed by the department or by the person whose
1-11     driver's license suspension is sustained.
1-12           (b)  An appeal bond may not be required of the department.
1-13           (c)  Section 524.042 applies to an appeal brought under this
1-14     section.
1-15           SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect immediately if it
1-16     receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
1-17     house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
1-18     If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
1-19     effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-20           (b)  Section 524.045, Transportation Code, as added by this
1-21     Act, applies only to a final judgment of a court under Subchapter
1-22     D, Chapter 524, Transportation Code, that is entered on or after
1-23     the effective date of this Act.  A final judgment of a court under
1-24     Subchapter D, Chapter 524, Transportation Code, that was entered
 2-1     before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in
 2-2     effect immediately before the effective date of this Act and the
 2-3     former law is continued in effect for that purpose.