H.B. No. 4545
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the time for filing a petition for judicial review in
  certain workers' compensation cases.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 410.252(a), Labor Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  A party may seek judicial review by filing suit not
  later than the 45th [40th] day after the date on which [the decision
  of the appeals panel was filed with] the division mailed the party
  the decision of the appeals panel.  For purposes of this section,
  the mailing date is considered to be the fifth day after the date
  the decision of the appeals panel was filed with the division.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a judicial review proceeding initiated under Subchapter F or G,
  Chapter 410, Labor Code, on or after the effective date of this Act.
  A proceeding initiated before that date is governed by the law in
  effect on the date the proceeding was initiated, and the former law
  is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 4545 was passed by the House on May 6,
  2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 136, Nays 3, 2 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 4545 on May 29, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 0,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 4545 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 27, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor