Opinion ID: 1579981
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: whether amended section 3.01 retroactively applies

Text: In David McDavid Nissan, we concluded that section 3.01(a), a jurisdictional provision, is a procedural and remedial statute that applied retroactively because it did not affect a vested right in that case. See David McDavid Nissan, 84 S.W.3d at 219 (citing Landgraf, 511 U.S. at 273, 114 S.Ct. 1483; Likes, 962 S.W.2d at 502; Abell, 613 S.W.2d at 260; Phil H. Pierce Co. v. Watkins, 114 Tex. 153, 263 S.W. 905, 907 (1924); Middleton, 185 S.W. at 560; Blonstein, 831 S.W.2d at 472; City of Kountze, 543 S.W.2d at 874-75). However, section 3.01(a) still may not constitutionally retroactively apply in this case if it affects a vested right. See Baker Hughes, 12 S.W.3d at 4; Middleton, 185 S.W. at 560. The Butnarus do not allege that section 3.01(a) affects any vested right. Instead, they contend that the Legislature did not expressly make the amendment to section 3.01(a) retroactive, and therefore, we should apply the Code Construction Act to conclude section 3.01(a)'s current version does not retroactively apply. See Tex. Gov't Code §§ 311.022 (A statute is presumed to be prospective in its operation unless expressly made retrospective.), 311.031 ([T]he ... amendment ... of a statute does not affect ... the prior operation of the statute or any prior action taken under it.). But the Butnarus misplace their reliance on the Code Construction Act. That statute applies only to each code enacted by the 60th or subsequent legislature as part of the state's continuing statutory revision program. Tex. Gov't Code § 311.002. When the Legislature recodifies a statute under Texas's continuing statutory revision program, the statute will indicate this. See, e.g., Tex. Local Gov't Code § 1.001 (This code is enacted as a part of the state's continuing statutory revision program....). And, though we refer to the Motor Vehicle Code as the Code, nothing in the Code's language or legislative history shows that it is part of our State's continuing statutory revision program. Tex. Gov't Code § 311.002; Robbins Chevrolet Co. v. Motor Vehicle Bd., 989 S.W.2d 865, 867 (Tex.App.-Austin 1999, pet. denied); see also Knight v. Int'l Harvester Credit Corp., 627 S.W.2d 382, 385 (Tex. 1982). Section 3.01(a) is a jurisdictional statute that, in this case, does not alter the parties' rights or obligations or remove any remedies already available. See David McDavid Nissan, 84 S.W.3d at 222; Likes, 962 S.W.2d at 502. This provision merely determines the tribunal that must initially resolve all issues and claims the Code governs. See Landgraf, 511 U.S. at 273, 114 S.Ct. 1483; David McDavid Nissan, 84 S.W.3d at 222; City of Kountze, 543 S.W.2d at 874-75. The parties do not have a vested right in choosing what tribunal will do this. See Landgraf, 511 U.S. at 273, 114 S.Ct. 1483; David McDavid Nissan, 84 S.W.3d at 222; 1898454; Middleton, 185 S.W. at 559; City of Kountze, 543 S.W.2d at 874-75. Accordingly, we conclude that amended section 3.01(a) constitutionally applies retroactively in this case.