By: Lucio S.B. No. 1483

(In the Senate - Filed March 8, 2007; March 20, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Jurisprudence; May 3, 2007, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 3, 2007, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to eviction suits in justice courts.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 24.0051, Property Code, is amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d) In a suit described by Subsection (c), the citation required by Rule 739, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, must include the following notice to the defendant on the first page of the citation in English and Spanish and in conspicuous bold print:

SUIT TO EVICT

THIS SUIT TO EVICT INVOLVES IMMEDIATE DEADLINES. CALL THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS TOLL-FREE AT 1-877-9TEXBAR IF YOU NEED HELP LOCATING AN ATTORNEY. IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY, YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE OR LOW-COST LEGAL ASSISTANCE.

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to a suit to recover possession of premises filed on or after the effective date of this Act. A suit filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before that date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

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