By: Raymond (Senate Sponsor - Van de Putte) H.B. No. 4545

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 7, 2009; May 8, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs; May 22, 2009, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 22, 2009, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 4545 By: Lucio

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

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.

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