HB179 - Relating to elimination of limitations periods for suits for personal injury arising from certain offenses against a child.

  89R4357 MZM-D     By: Johnson H.B. No. 179       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to elimination of limitations periods for suits for   personal injury arising from certain offenses against a child.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 16.003(a), Civil Practice and Remedies   Code, is amended to read as follows:          (a)  Except as provided by Sections 16.010, 16.0031, [ and ]   16.0045, and 16.0046, a person must bring suit for trespass for   injury to the estate or to the property of another, conversion of   personal property, taking or detaining the personal property of   another, personal injury, forcible entry and detainer, and forcible   detainer not later than two years after the day the cause of action   accrues.          SECTION 2.  Section 16.0045(a), Civil Practice and Remedies   Code, is amended to read as follows:          (a)  A person must bring suit for personal injury not later   than 30 years after the day the cause of action accrues if the   injury arises as a result of conduct that violates:                (1)  [ Section 22.011(a)(2), Penal Code (sexual assault   of a child);                [ (2)     Section 22.021(a)(1)(B), Penal Code (aggravated   sexual assault of a child);                [ (3) ]  Section 21.02, Penal Code (continuous sexual   abuse of young child or disabled individual) , unless the victim is a   child younger than 14 years of age ;                 (2)  [ (4) ]  Section 20A.02(a)(7)(A), [ (B), ] (C), (D),   or (H) or Section 20A.02(a)(8), Penal Code, involving an activity   described by Section 20A.02(a)(7)(A), [ (B), ] (C), (D), or (H) or   sexual conduct with a [ child or ] disabled individual trafficked in   the manner described by Section 20A.02(a)(7), Penal Code (certain   sexual trafficking); or                 (3)  [ (5) ]  Section 43.05(a)(3) [ 43.05(a)(2) or (3) ],   Penal Code (compelling prostitution by a [ child or ] disabled   individual)[ ; or                [ (6)     Section 21.11, Penal Code (indecency with a   child) ].          SECTION 3.  Subchapter A, Chapter 16, Civil Practice and   Remedies Code, is amended by adding Section 16.0046 to read as   follows:           Sec.   16.0046.     NO LIMITATIONS PERIOD. A person may bring a   suit for personal injury at any time if the injury arises as a   result of conduct that violates:                 (1)     Section 22.011(a)(2), Penal Code (sexual assault   of a child);                 (2)     Section 22.021(a)(1)(B), Penal Code (aggravated   sexual assault of a child);                 (3)     Section 21.02, Penal Code (continuous sexual abuse   of young child or disabled individual), if the victim is a child   younger than 14 years of age;                 (4)     Section 20A.02(a)(7)(A), (B), (C), (D), or (H) or   Section 20A.02(a)(8), Penal Code, involving an activity described   by Section 20A.02(a)(7)(A), (B), (C), (D), or (H), if the victim is   a child, or sexual conduct with a child trafficked in the manner   described by Section 20A.02(a)(7), Penal Code (certain sexual   trafficking of a child);                 (5)     Section 43.05(a)(2), Penal Code (compelling   prostitution by a child); or                 (6)     Section 21.11, Penal Code (indecency with a   child).          SECTION 4.  (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this   section, the changes in law made by this Act apply to a cause of   action that accrues before, on, or after the effective date of this   Act, regardless of whether:                (1)  the limitations period applicable to the cause of   action immediately before the effective date of this Act expired   before the effective date of this Act; or                (2)  the cause of action was the subject of a claim for   which a limitations period applicable to the cause of action before   the effective date of this Act was determinative.          (b)  The changes in law made by this Act do not affect a   judgment in litigation:                (1)  that became final before the effective date of   this Act; and                (2)  for which the limitations period applicable to the   cause of action before the effective date of this Act was not   determinative.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.