Bill Text: TX SB1261 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to certain procedures in certain civil actions.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-13 - Referred to State Affairs [SB1261 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-SB1261-Introduced.html
  83R2869 TJS-F
 
  By: Rodriguez S.B. No. 1261
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to certain procedures in certain civil actions.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 30, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 30.019 and 30.020 to read as follows:
         Sec. 30.019.  STANDARDIZED FORMS. (a) In this section,
  "standardized form" means a form promulgated by the supreme court
  under Section 22.003, Government Code, for use in a civil action in
  a trial court of this state, including a petition or answer, notice,
  motion, proposed order, or other pleading. The term includes any
  instructions promulgated for use with the form.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Section 22.004, Government Code, the
  supreme court may not amend or adopt rules in conflict with this
  section.
         (c)  A court may not grant relief or enter an order using or
  relying on a standardized form that does not comply with
  substantive or procedural law.
         (d)  A standardized form may not be used for a purpose other
  than the purpose stated in the order approving the standardized
  form.
         (e)  A court may not accept a standardized form that is:
               (1)  prepared in a manner inconsistent with the
  instructions promulgated for use with the form; or
               (2)  submitted for a use other than the use authorized
  by the order adopting the standardized form.
         (f)  The clerk of a court may not complete, assist in
  completing, or advise a party concerning the completion of a
  standardized form.
         (g)  This section does not apply to a standardized form used
  in an action to seek or enforce a protective order under Title 4,
  Family Code.
         Sec. 30.020.  SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGATION. (a) In this
  section, "self-represented litigant" means a party to a civil
  action who is not represented by an attorney.
         (b)  Except as otherwise provided by law or a court order:
               (1)  a party is not required to be represented by an
  attorney in a civil action; and
               (2)  a self-represented litigant is subject to the same
  substantive and procedural law as a person who is represented by an
  attorney.
         SECTION 2.  Section 7.003, Family Code, is amended to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 7.003.  DISPOSITION OF RETIREMENT AND EMPLOYMENT
  BENEFITS AND OTHER PLANS. (a) In a decree of divorce or annulment,
  the court shall determine the rights of both spouses in a pension,
  retirement plan, annuity, individual retirement account, employee
  stock option plan, stock option, or other form of savings, bonus,
  profit-sharing, or other employer plan or financial plan of an
  employee or a participant, regardless of whether the person is
  self-employed, in the nature of compensation or savings.
         (b)  In a suit for dissolution of a marriage in which either
  spouse is a self-represented litigant, as defined by Section
  30.020, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, and files any
  standardized form, as defined by Section 30.019, Civil Practice and
  Remedies Code, the court may not enter a decree of divorce or
  annulment until each spouse:
               (1)  discloses to the court and to the other spouse the
  existence, nature, and value of a pension, plan, or other account
  described by Subsection (a); or
               (2)  swears that the spouse does not own or have a legal
  or equitable interest in a pension, plan, or other account
  described by Subsection (a).
         SECTION 3.  Section 22.003, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  An order of the supreme court adopting a form must
  specify an effective date to be printed conspicuously on the form.
  The effective date must provide for a reasonable period of time
  during which the court will accept public comment on the form before
  it becomes effective.
         SECTION 4.  (a) Section 30.019, Civil Practice and Remedies
  Code, as added by this Act, applies to a standardized form
  promulgated by the Supreme Court of Texas before, on, or after the
  effective date of this Act that is filed in a civil action on or
  after the effective date of this Act. A standardized form that is
  filed in a civil action before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the form is filed, and that
  law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         (b)  Section 30.020, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as
  added by this Act, is intended to clarify existing law with respect
  to the law that applies to a party to civil litigation who is not
  represented by an attorney.
         (c)  Section 7.003, Family Code, as amended by this Act,
  applies only to a suit for dissolution of a marriage filed on or
  after the effective date of this Act. A suit for dissolution filed
  before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in
  effect on the date the suit was filed, and that law is continued in
  effect for that purpose.
         (d)  Section 22.003(c), Government Code, as added by this
  Act, applies to a form promulgated by the Supreme Court of Texas on
  or after the effective date of this Act. A form promulgated by the
  Supreme Court of Texas before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the form was promulgated,
  and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
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