By Goodman                                            H.B. No. 2665
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to mediated settlement agreements.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  The Civil Practice & Remedies Code is amended by
    1-5  adding new subsections (d) and (e) to Section 154.071 of the Texas
    1-6  Civil Practice and Remedies Code to read as follows:
    1-7        (d)  A mediated settlement agreement is subject to revocation
    1-8  by a party before rendition of judgment, unless:
    1-9              (1)  the settlement agreement specifically states that
   1-10  the agreement is not subject to revocation; and
   1-11              (2)  the settlement agreement is signed by an attorney
   1-12  for the party.
   1-13        (e)  If a mediated settlement agreement meets the
   1-14  requirements of subsection (d), subparts (1) and (2), a party is
   1-15  entitled to judgment on the mediated settlement agreement.
   1-16        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-17  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-18  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-19  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-20  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   1-21  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   1-22  passage, and it is so enacted.
   1-23                       COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1
    2-1        Amend H.B. 2665 as follows:
    2-2        On page 1, line 8, after the word "judgment,", add or decree.
    2-3        On page 1, delete lines 9 through 12 and substitute the
    2-4  following:
    2-5              (1)  the settlement agreement contains, in a separate
    2-6  paragraph, an underlined statement that the settlement agreement is
    2-7  not subject to revocation; and
    2-8              (2)  the settlement agreement is signed by each party
    2-9  to the settlement agreement; and
   2-10              (3)  if the party has an attorney representing the
   2-11  party in the matter being mediated, the party's attorney shall
   2-12  approve the settlement agreement if the party's attorney is present
   2-13  when the settlement agreement is executed.
   2-14                                                              Hilbert