Bill: HB 1734, 86(R) - 2019

Committee

House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

2nd Chamber Committee

Senate Education

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation Economic Freedom Property Rights Personal Responsibility Limited Government Individual Liberty
Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral

Author(s)

Justin Holland
Barbara Gervin-Hawkins
Jeff Leach
Oscar Longoria
Armando Martinez

Co-Author(s)

DeWayne Burns
Cole Hefner
Todd Hunter
Mike Lang
Jarred Patterson
Valoree Swanson
Ed Thompson

Sponsor(s)

Eddie Lucio Jr.

Bill Caption

Relating to litigation involving certain defects in school district facilities and enforcement of certain duties following that litigation; authorizing a civil penalty.

Fiscal Notes

The Legislative Budget Board does not anticipate any significant fiscal implication. 

Bill Analysis

HB 1734 addresses issues related to school districts which bring suits for recovery of damages for defective design, construction, renovation, or improvement of a school district facility financed by public bonds. The first significant thing this bill would do is replace the term "instructional facility" with the term "district facility." This would have the effect of broadening the scope of the statute to cover all district facilities rather than only instructional facilities.

HB 1734 would add that in a mandatory notice to the TEA commissioner of an action taken under this statute, the notice must include a copy of the petition by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested, not later than the 30th day after the date the action is filed. Failure to do so would require a court or arbitrator to dismiss the action without prejudice and extend the statute of limitations for 90 days.

Should a district be successful in a civil action, this bill would strictly limit usage of the net proceeds of that action to include repair or replacement of the relevant facility, replacement of ancillary damage to furniture or fixtures, reimbursement to the district for certain repair or replacement costs, or any other purpose authorized by the TEA commissioner.

HB 1734 would also authorize the Attorney General to investigate a school district suspected of not using money awarded from a lawsuit to repair the defective design or construction for which the cause of action was brought, not providing an itemized account of any repairs made, or not sending certain reports to the comptroller.

Vote Recommendation Notes

Texas Action is neutral on HB 1734 because it addresses procedural or administrative issues which neither advance nor hinder any of our liberty principles.


Source URL (retrieved on 03/28/2024 03:03 PM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/86r/hb1734?print_view=true