By Allen                                               H.B. No. 820
       74R3315 PEP-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to court orders to grant a name change to certain persons
    1-3  convicted of a criminal offense.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Section 32.22, Family Code, is amended to read as
    1-6  follows:
    1-7        Sec. 32.22.  Decree.  (a)  For good cause shown the court
    1-8  shall order a change of name for any person other than a person
    1-9  finally convicted of an offense <a felony> as requested if it finds
   1-10  that the change is in the interest or to the benefit of the
   1-11  petitioner and in the interest of the public.
   1-12        (b)  A court may order a change of name for a person finally
   1-13  convicted of an offense <a felony> if, in addition to the
   1-14  requirements of Subsection (a), the person has:
   1-15              (1)  received a certificate of discharge by the pardons
   1-16  and paroles division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or
   1-17  completed a period of community supervision <probation> ordered by
   1-18  a court and at least two calendar years have elapsed from the date
   1-19  of the receipt of discharge or completion of community supervision
   1-20  <probation>; or
   1-21              (2)  been pardoned.
   1-22        (c)  In this section, "offense" means:
   1-23              (1)  any felony;
   1-24              (2)  a misdemeanor under Chapter 21, Penal Code; or
    2-1              (3)  a misdemeanor under Section 43.24 or Section
    2-2  43.251, Penal Code.
    2-3        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
    2-4        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-5  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-6  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-7  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-8  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.