82R476 TJB-D
 
  By: Berman H.B. No. 294
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to prohibiting a person who is in the United States
  illegally from bringing a claim in a state court.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 30, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is
  amended by adding Section 30.018 to read as follows:
         Sec. 30.018.  CLAIM BY ILLEGAL ALIEN PROHIBITED. (a) In
  this section, "illegal alien" means an individual who is not a
  citizen or national of the United States and whose presence in the
  country is not authorized by federal law.
         (b)  An illegal alien may not bring a claim or otherwise seek
  legal or equitable relief, including as a counterclaimant or
  cross-claimant, in a court of this state.
         SECTION 2.  This Act applies only to an action commenced on
  or after the effective date of this Act. An action commenced before
  the effective date of this Act is governed by the law applicable to
  the action immediately before the effective date of this Act, and
  that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2011.