By:  Duncan                                                       S.B. No. 554
	(In the Senate - Filed February 16, 2005; February 28, 2005,
read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs; 
March 22, 2005, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 8, 
Nays 0; March 22, 2005, sent to printer.)


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to the liability of an ERISA-regulated employee benefit 
plan under certain state law.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 88, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is 
amended by adding Section 88.0015 to read as follows:
	Sec. 88.0015.  INAPPLICABILITY TO ERISA-REGULATED EMPLOYEE 
BENEFIT PLAN.  This chapter does not apply to an employee benefit 
plan regulated under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 
1974 (29 U.S.C. Section 1001 et seq.).
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.



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