H.B. No. 1456
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to judicial review of certain decisions under the Texas
  Workers' Compensation Act.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 415.035, Labor Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 415.035.  JUDICIAL REVIEW. [(a)] A decision under
  Section 415.034 is subject to judicial review in the manner
  provided for judicial review under Chapter 2001, Government Code.
         [(b)     If an administrative penalty is assessed, the person
  charged shall:
               [(1)     forward the amount of the penalty to the division
  for deposit in an escrow account; or
               [(2)     post with the division a bond for the amount of
  the penalty, effective until all judicial review of the
  determination is final.
         [(c)     Failure to comply with Subsection (b) results in a
  waiver of all legal rights to contest the violation or the amount of
  the penalty.
         [(d)     If the court determines that the penalty should not
  have been assessed or reduces the amount of the penalty, the
  division shall:
               [(1)     remit the appropriate amount, plus accrued
  interest, if the administrative penalty was paid; or
               [(2)  release the bond.]
         SECTION 2.  Section 415.035, Labor Code, as amended by this
  Act, applies only to judicial review of a decision issued on or
  after the effective date of this Act. Judicial review of a decision
  issued before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law
  in effect on the date the decision was issued, and the former 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, 2017.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1456 was passed by the House on April
  20, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 144, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1456 was passed by the Senate on May
  12, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor