By:  Whitmire                                                     S.B. No. 1811


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to service of process and to the ability to sue and be sued 
of a sports and community venue district.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 335, Local Government 
Code, is amended by adding Section 335.005 to read as follows:
	Sec. 335.005.  SUITS; SERVICE OF PROCESS.  A district, 
through its board, may sue and be sued in any court of this state in 
the name of the district.  Service of process on a district may be 
had by serving either the current chairman of the board or the 
current chief executive officer of the district or its registered 
agent designated by the district by filing a statement with the 
office of the secretary of state setting forth:  (i)  the name of 
the district, and (ii)  the name and address of the district's 
registered agent, which address must be in the State of Texas.  The 
statement shall be executed on behalf of the district by an officer 
of the district.  A district may change the name and address of its 
registered agent by filing another statement with the office of the 
secretary of state.  Upon such filing, the prior registered agent 
for the district shall cease to be the registered agent for the 
district and service of process may not be had by serving the prior 
registered agent.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.