Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion ( 1975 )


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  •                                  November    4.    1975
    The Honorable A.     J. Hartel                        Opinion No.   H-   733
    County Attorney
    County of Liberty                                     Re: Whether a claim for
    Liberty, Texas                                        reimbursement     to a state
    hospital for support and
    maintenance    is barred by the
    two-year   statute of limitations.
    Dear Mr.   Hartel:
    You have requested our opinion regarding whether a claim for
    reimbursement    to a state hospital for support and maintenance is barred                 by
    the two-year  statute of lititations.
    You state that Rusk State Hospital is attempting to collect from the
    estate of one of its patients a sum representing  monthly charges for support,
    maintenance   and treatment since September 1, 1971.    The Hospital’s claim is
    based upon article 3196a, V. T.C. S., which gives the State a right to be
    reimbursed   for the care and treatment of non-indigent  patients who are
    committed   to its facilities.
    Section   298 of the Texas    Probate       Code provides,   in pertinent   part:
    (b) Claims may be presented to the guardian at
    any time when the estate is not closed and when
    suit on such claims has not been barred by the
    general statutes of limitation.
    (c) No claims against a . . . ward .       on which a
    suit is barred by a general statute of limitation
    applicable thereto shall be allowed by a personal
    representative.   If allowed by the representative
    and the court is satisfied that limitation has run,
    the claim shall be disapproved.
    p.    3124
    The Honorable    A.   J. Hartel       - page 2      (H-733)
    The general statute of limitations   is article 5526, V. T. C. S. However,
    it appears to be settled in Texas and in other jurisdictions      that a limitation
    statute does not run against the state unless a statute expressly       so provides.
    Brown v. Sneed, 
    14 S.W. 248
    , 251 (Tex. Sup. 1890); State v. Stone, 
    271 S.W.2d 741
    , 747 (Tex. Civ. App. -- Beaumont 1954, no writ); Luder’s
    Adm’r v. State, 
    152 S.W. 220
    , 222 (Tex. Civ. App. -- San Antonio 1912, no
    writ); Waters-Pierce     Oil Co. Y. State, 
    106 S.W. 918
    , 929 (Tex. Civ. App.
    1907, writ ref’d); 51 Am. Jur. 2d, Limitation     of Actions $417 at 890. Since
    neither article 5526 nor any other statute expressly      provides that the two-
    year statute of limitations   runs against the State, it is our opinion that
    the two-year   limitation period is not applicable to claims by the State.
    Thus, the Hospital is not barred from collecting      charges which accrued
    more than two years prior to the filing of the claim for reimbursement.
    SUMMARY
    A claim for reimbursement    to a state hospital                   for
    support and maintenance   of one of its patients                   is not
    barred & the two-year   statute of limitations.
    Very   truly    yours,
    OHN L.     HILL
    General    of Texas
    @?NDm          First      Aisistant
    ,
    d
    C. ROBERT HEATH,          Chairman
    Opinion Committee
    jwb
    p.     3125
    

Document Info

Docket Number: H-733

Judges: John Hill

Filed Date: 7/2/1975

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 2/18/2017