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AN ACT
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relating to certain security devices for residential tenancies. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 92.156, Property Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (e), a [A] |
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security device operated by a key, card, or combination shall be |
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rekeyed by the landlord at the landlord's expense not later than the |
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seventh day after each tenant turnover date. |
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(e) If a tenant vacates the premises in breach of a written |
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lease, the landlord may deduct from the tenant's security deposit |
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the reasonable cost incurred by the landlord to rekey a security |
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device as required by this section only if the lease includes a |
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provision that is underlined or printed in boldface type |
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authorizing the deduction. |
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SECTION 2. Section 92.157(a), Property Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) At a tenant's request made at any time, a landlord, at |
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the tenant's expense, shall install: |
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(1) a keyed dead bolt on an exterior door if the door |
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has: |
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(A) a doorknob lock but not a keyed dead bolt; or |
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(B) a keyless bolting device but not a keyed dead |
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bolt or doorknob lock; and |
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(2) a sliding door handle latch [pin lock] or sliding |
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door security bar if the door is an exterior sliding glass door |
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without a sliding door handle latch [pin lock] or sliding door |
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security bar. |
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SECTION 3. Section 92.1641, Property Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 92.1641. LANDLORD'S DEFENSES RELATING TO INSTALLING OR |
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REKEYING CERTAIN SECURITY DEVICES. The landlord has a defense to |
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liability under Section 92.164 if: |
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(1) the tenant has not fully paid all rent then due |
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from the tenant on the date the tenant gives a request under |
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[Subsection (a) of] Section 92.157(c) [92.157] or the notice |
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required by Section 92.164; or |
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(2) on the date the tenant terminates the lease or |
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files suit the tenant has not fully paid costs requested by the |
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landlord and authorized by Section 92.162. |
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SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a lease entered into or renewed on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. A lease entered into or renewed before the effective date |
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of this Act is governed by the law as it existed immediately before |
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the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect |
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for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect January 1, 2016. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2404 was passed by the House on May |
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15, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 2404 on May 28, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 0, |
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2 present, not voting, and that the House adopted H.C.R. No. 144 |
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authorizing certain corrections in H.B. No. 2404 on May 30, 2015, by |
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the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 1, 2 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2404 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 26, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays |
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1, |
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and that the Senate adopted H.C.R. No. 144 authorizing certain |
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corrections in H.B. No. 2404 on May 31, 2015, by the following vote: |
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Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |