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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to exemplary damages awarded to an illegal immigrant. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 41, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 41.014 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 41.014. DISTRIBUTION OF EXEMPLARY DAMAGES AWARDED TO |
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ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT. (a) In this section, "illegal immigrant" means |
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a person who is not a citizen or national of the United States and |
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who has entered the United States without inspection and |
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authorization by an immigration officer. |
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(b) The court shall order an award of exemplary damages |
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awarded to a claimant who is an illegal immigrant to be distributed |
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to the comptroller for deposit in the general revenue fund. |
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(c) The provisions of this section may not be made known to |
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the jury through any means, including voir dire, introduction into |
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evidence, or instruction. |
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SECTION 2. Section 41.014, Civil Practice and Remedies |
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Code, as added by this Act, applies only to an award of exemplary |
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damages made on or after the effective date of this Act. An award of |
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exemplary damages made before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect immediately before the change in law |
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made by this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |