HBA-DMH H.C.R. 221 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.C.R. 221 By: Brimer Civil Practices 4/9/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE MICA Corporation alleges that, on November 14, 1997, MICA Corporation and the Texas Department of Transportation entered into a contract for the construction of a project in Webb County on FM 1472. MICA Corporation alleges that the Texas Department of Transportation has failed to pay money owed to MICA Corporation under the terms of the contract. House Concurrent Resolution 221 grants MICA Corporation permission to sue the State of Texas and the Texas Department of Transportation. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this resolution does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Concurrent Resolution 221 grants MICA Corporation permission to sue the State of Texas and the Texas Department of Transportation. The total of all damages awarded in the suit authorized by this resolution, including any court costs and attorney's fees, may not exceed $1 million. The resolution prohibits MICA Corporation from pleading an amount in excess of that amount in a suit authorized by this resolution and provides that this is the total amount that may be recovered with respect to the contract that is the subject of this resolution in all actions brought with respect to that contract. The resolution provides that none of the court records, pleadings, motions, or discovery related to the suit authorized by this resolution may be sealed by the court or the parties from public inspection and that the executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation be served a citation and other required process.