78R3054 PB-D

By:  Duncan                                                       S.B. No. 477



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to disqualification for eligibility for workers' 
compensation benefits of certain professional athletes.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 406.095(c), Labor Code, is amended to 
read as follows:   
	(c)  In this section, "professional athlete" means a person 
employed as a professional athlete by a franchise of:
		(1)  the National Football League;                                            
		(2)  the National Basketball Association;                                     
		(3)  the American League of Professional Baseball 
Clubs;                    
		(4)  the National League of Professional Baseball 
Clubs;                    
		(5)  the International Hockey League;  [or]                  
		(6)  the National Hockey League; or                                    
		(7)  the Central Hockey League.                                        
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003, and 
applies only to a claim for workers' compensation benefits based on 
a compensable injury that occurs on or after that date.  A claim 
based on a compensable injury that occurs before that date is 
governed by the law in effect on the date that the compensable 
injury occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for that 
purpose.