| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to exemplary damages awarded to a noncitizen. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 41, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 41.014 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 41.014. DISTRIBUTION OF EXEMPLARY DAMAGES AWARDED TO |
|
|
NONCITIZEN. (a) In this section, "noncitizen" means a person who |
|
|
is not a citizen or national of the United States. |
|
|
(b) The court shall order an award of exemplary damages |
|
|
awarded to a claimant who is a noncitizen to be distributed to the |
|
|
comptroller for deposit in the general revenue fund. |
|
|
(c) The provisions of this section may not be made known to |
|
|
the jury through any means, including voir dire, introduction into |
|
|
evidence, or instruction. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 41.014, Civil Practice and Remedies |
|
|
Code, as added by this Act, applies only to an award of exemplary |
|
|
damages made on or after the effective date of this Act. An award of |
|
|
exemplary damages made before the effective date of this Act is |
|
|
governed by the law in effect immediately before the change in law |
|
|
made by this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that |
|
|
purpose. |
|
|
SECTION 3. 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, 2007. |