BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1572 By: Henderson Jurisprudence 4-12-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution can and often do help resolve family law cases. There is no required language in initial pleading, however, to make people aware of mediation. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1572 encourages the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) by requiring an ADR statement to be included in the first pleading filed by the party in certain proceedings. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 3C, Family Code, by adding Section 3.522, as follows: Sec. 3.522. STATEMENT ON ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. Requires a party to a proceeding under this title to include in the first pleading filed by the party in the proceeding a statement providing information on alternative dispute resolution in family law matters. Sets forth required language for the statement. Requires the statement to be printed in a certain manner. Provides that the statement is not required under certain circumstances. SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 11A, Family Code, by adding Section 11.081, as follows: Sec. 11.081. STATEMENT ON ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. Requires a party to a proceeding brought under this chapter and Chapters 12 through 14 to include in the first pleading filed by the party in the proceeding a statement on alternative dispute resolution. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1995. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.