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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to venue in civil actions under the Jones Act. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 15.018, Civil Practice and Remedies |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 15.018. FEDERAL EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY ACT [AND JONES
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ACT]. (a) This section only applies to suits brought under the |
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federal Employers' Liability Act (45 U.S.C. Section 51 et seq.) [or
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the Jones Act (46 U.S.C. Section 688)]. |
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(b) All suits brought under the federal Employers' |
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Liability Act [or the Jones Act] shall be brought: |
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(1) in the county in which all or a substantial part of |
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the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred; |
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(2) in the county where the defendant's principal |
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office in this state is located; or |
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(3) in the county where the plaintiff resided at the |
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time the cause of action accrued. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 15, Civil Practice and |
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Remedies Code, is amended by adding Section 15.0181 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 15.0181. JONES ACT. (a) This section applies only to |
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suits brought under the Jones Act (46 U.S.C. Section 688). |
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(b) All suits brought under the Jones Act shall be brought: |
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(1) in the county in which all or a substantial part of |
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the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred; |
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(2) in the county where the defendant's principal |
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office in this state is located; or |
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(3) if Subdivisions (1) and (2) do not apply, in the |
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county where the plaintiff resided at the time the cause of action |
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accrued. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an action commenced on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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An action commenced before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date |
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of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. 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. |