80R3019 ATP-F
 
  By: Turner H.B. No. 1478
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the waiver of immunity from suit of certain local
government entities for claims arising under employment law.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  The heading to Chapter 271, Local Government
Code, is amended to read as follows:
       CHAPTER 271. PURCHASING, [AND] CONTRACTING, AND RELATED AUTHORITY
OF MUNICIPALITIES, COUNTIES, AND CERTAIN
OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
       SECTION 2.  The heading to Subchapter I, Chapter 271, Local
Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
       SUBCHAPTER I. ADJUDICATION OF CONTRACT OR EMPLOYMENT-RELATED
CLAIMS AGAINST [ARISING UNDER WRITTEN CONTRACTS WITH] LOCAL
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES
       SECTION 3.  Section 271.152, Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
       Sec. 271.152.  WAIVER OF IMMUNITY TO SUIT FOR CERTAIN
CLAIMS. A local governmental entity that is authorized by statute
or the constitution to enter into a contract and [that] enters into
a contract subject to this subchapter, or that is governed by a
state statute or local ordinance affecting the employment rights of
a local governmental entity's employees, waives sovereign immunity
to suit for the purpose of adjudicating a claim for breach of the
contract or a violation of statute or ordinance, subject to the
terms and conditions of this subchapter.
       SECTION 4.  Section 271.153, Local Government Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
       (c)  The total amount of money awarded in an adjudication
brought against a local governmental entity for violation of a
statute or ordinance affecting the employment rights of a local
governmental entity's employees is limited to:
             (1)  the amount necessary to make the affected
individual whole for any violation of rights found to have
occurred; and
             (2)  interest as allowed by law.
       SECTION 5.  Section 271.155, Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
       Sec. 271.155.  NO WAIVER OF OTHER DEFENSES. This subchapter
does not waive a defense or a limitation on damages available to a
person [party to a contract], other than a bar against suit based on
sovereign immunity.
       SECTION 6.  Section 271.159, Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
       Sec. 271.159.  NO RECOVERY OF ATTORNEY'S FEES. (a)
Attorney's fees incurred by a local governmental entity or any
other party in the adjudication of a claim under a contract subject
to this subchapter by or against a local governmental entity shall
not be awarded to any party in the adjudication unless the local
governmental entity has entered into a written agreement that
expressly authorizes the prevailing party in the adjudication to
recover its reasonable and necessary attorney's fees by specific
reference to this section.
       (b)  Attorney's fees incurred by a local governmental entity
or any other party in the adjudication of a claim under a statute or
ordinance affecting the employment rights of a local governmental
entity's employees shall not be awarded to any party in the
adjudication unless authorized by a statute outside this
subchapter.
       SECTION 7.  The changes in law made by this Act to Subchapter
I, Chapter 271, Local Government Code, apply to any action alleging
a violation of Title 5, Local Government Code, or another state
statute or a local ordinance affecting employment that has not been
finally adjudicated on the effective date of this Act.
       SECTION 8.  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.