86R4760 BRG-D
 
  By: Holland H.B. No. 1737
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the statutes of limitation and repose for certain
  claims involving the construction or repair of an improvement to
  real property or equipment attached to real property.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 16.008, Civil Practice and Remedies
  Code, is amended by adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) and amending
  Subsections (a) and (c) to read as follows:
         (a)   In this section:
               (1)  "Latent deficiency" means a defective or unsafe
  condition that is not apparent by reasonable inspection; and
               (2)  "Patent deficiency" means a defective or unsafe
  condition that is apparent by reasonable inspection.
         (a-1)  A person may not [must] bring suit for damages for a
  claim listed in Subsection (b) against a registered or licensed
  architect, engineer, interior designer, or landscape architect in
  this state, who designs, plans, or inspects the construction of an
  improvement to real property or equipment attached to real
  property[, not] later than eight [10] years after the substantial
  completion of the improvement or the beginning of operation of the
  equipment in an action arising out of a defective or unsafe
  condition of the real property, the improvement, or the equipment.
         (a-2)  A person must bring suit for damages for a claim
  listed in Subsection (b) against a registered or licensed
  architect, engineer, interior designer, or landscape architect in
  this state, who designs, plans, or inspects the construction of an
  improvement to real property or equipment attached to real
  property, not later than four years after:
               (1)  the substantial completion of the improvement or
  the beginning of operation of the equipment in an action arising out
  of a patent deficiency in the real property, the improvement, or the
  equipment;
               (2)  the person discovers a latent deficiency in the
  real property, improvement, or equipment; or
               (3)  a latent deficiency in the real property,
  improvement, or equipment becomes a patent deficiency.
         (c)  If the claimant presents a written claim for damages,
  contribution, or indemnity to the architect, engineer, interior
  designer, or landscape architect within the applicable [10-year]
  limitations period, the period is extended for two years from the
  day the claim is presented.
         SECTION 2.  Section 16.009, Civil Practice and Remedies
  Code, is amended by adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) and amending
  Subsections (a), (c), and (d) to read as follows:
         (a)  In this section:
               (1)  "Latent deficiency" means a defective or unsafe
  condition that is not apparent by reasonable inspection; and
               (2)  "Patent deficiency" means a defective or unsafe
  condition that is apparent by reasonable inspection.
         (a-1)  A claimant may not [must] bring suit for damages for a
  claim listed in Subsection (b) against a person who constructs or
  repairs an improvement to real property [not] later than eight [10]
  years after the substantial completion of the improvement in an
  action arising out of a defective or unsafe condition of the real
  property or a deficiency in the construction or repair of the
  improvement.
         (a-2)  A person must bring suit for damages for a claim
  listed in Subsection (b) against a person who constructs or repairs
  an improvement to real property not later than four years after:
               (1)  the substantial completion of the improvement in
  an action arising out of a patent deficiency in the real property or
  the construction or repair of the improvement;
               (2)  the person discovers a latent deficiency in the
  real property or the construction or repair of the improvement; or
               (3)  a latent deficiency in the real property or the
  construction or repair of the improvement becomes a patent
  deficiency.
         (c)  If the claimant presents a written claim for damages,
  contribution, or indemnity to the person performing or furnishing
  the construction or repair work during the applicable [10-year]
  limitations period, the period is extended for two years from the
  date the claim is presented.
         (d)  If the damage, injury, or death occurs during the last
  [10th] year of the limitations period, the claimant may bring suit
  not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues.
         SECTION 3.  (a)  Except as provided by this section, Section
  16.008, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as amended by this Act,
  applies to a cause of action arising out of a design, plan, or
  inspection of the construction of an improvement to real property
  or equipment attached to real property that commences on or after
  the effective date of this Act. Section 16.008, Civil Practice and
  Remedies Code, as amended by this Act, does not apply to a cause of
  action arising out of a design, plan, or inspection that commences
  on or after the effective date of this Act under a contract entered
  into before that date.
         (b)  A cause of action arising out of a design, plan, or
  inspection of the construction of an improvement to real property
  or equipment attached to real property that commenced before the
  effective date of this Act or arising out of a design, plan, or
  inspection of the construction of an improvement to real property
  or equipment attached to real property that commences on or after
  the effective date of this Act under a contract entered into before
  that date is governed by the law applicable to the cause of action
  immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  (a)  Except as provided by this section, Section
  16.009, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as amended by this Act,
  applies to a cause of action arising out of construction or repair
  of an improvement to real property that commences on or after the
  effective date of this Act. Section 16.009, Civil Practice and
  Remedies Code, as amended by this Act, does not apply to a cause of
  action arising out of construction or repair of an improvement to
  real property that commences on or after the effective date of this
  Act under a contract entered into before that date.
         (b)  A cause of action arising out of construction or repair
  of an improvement to real property that commenced before the
  effective date of this Act or arising out of construction or repair
  of an improvement to real property that commences on or after the
  effective date of this Act under a contract entered into before that
  date is governed by the law applicable to the cause of action
  immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.