83R9988 SCL-D
 
  By: Lucio III H.B. No. 1808
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to an award of attorney's fees for certain dismissed
  claims joined to an action under the Family Code.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 30.021, Civil Practice and Remedies
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 30.021.  AWARD OF ATTORNEY'S FEES IN RELATION TO
  CERTAIN MOTIONS TO DISMISS. (a)  In a civil proceeding, on a trial
  court's granting or denial, in whole or in part, of a motion to
  dismiss filed under the rules adopted by the supreme court under
  Section 22.004(g), Government Code, the court shall award costs and
  reasonable and necessary attorney's fees to the prevailing
  party.  This section does not apply to actions by or against the
  state, other governmental entities, or public officials acting in
  their official capacity or under color of law.
         (b)  Subsection (a) applies to the dismissal of a tort claim
  joined to an action under the Family Code.
         SECTION 2.  Section 22.004(g), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (g)  The supreme court shall adopt rules to provide for the
  dismissal of causes of action that have no basis in law or fact on
  motion and without evidence.  The rules shall provide that the
  motion to dismiss shall be granted or denied within 45 days of the
  filing of the motion to dismiss.  Except as provided by Section
  30.021, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, the [The] rules shall not
  apply to actions under the Family Code.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an action commencing on or after the effective date of this Act.
  An action commencing before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law as it existed on the date the action commenced,
  and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.