84R4667 AJA-D
By: Workman H.B. No. 1784
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to damages in an action arising out of a deficiency in the
construction or repair of an improvement to real property.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 41, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is
amended by adding Section 41.015 to read as follows:
Sec. 41.015. DAMAGES FOR CONSTRUCTION DEFECT. (a) In this
section, "construction defect" means a deficiency in the
construction or repair of an improvement to real property.
(b) This section applies only to a claim asserted by a
person to recover the actual costs incurred in curing a
construction defect from the person who originally designed,
administered, constructed, or repaired an improvement to real
property.
(c) This section applies to a claim regardless of whether
the claim is asserted by a person who contracted for the
construction or repair.
(d) The amount of actual damages for the cost to cure a
construction defect that might otherwise be awarded in a claim
subject to this section is reduced by 10 percent for each
anniversary of the date of substantial completion of the
construction or repair that occurs before the date the action
asserting the claim is filed. An award of exemplary damages,
multiplied damages, or other damages that is computed on the basis
of the amount awarded as damages for the cost to cure the
construction defect must reflect any reduction of that amount under
this section.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to construction or repair of an improvement to real property
commenced on or after the effective date of this Act under a
contract entered into on or after the effective date of this Act.
Construction or repair of an improvement to real property under a
contract entered into before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date
of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.