75R12105 SKB-D                           

         By Goodman                                             H.B. No. 863

         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 863:

         By Staples                                         C.S.H.B. No. 863

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to findings of fact and conclusions of law by a court in a

 1-3     suit for dissolution of marriage.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 7, Family Code, as added by S.B. 334,

 1-6     Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, is amended by

 1-7     adding Section 7.0015 to read as follows:

 1-8           Sec. 7.0015.  FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW.  A

 1-9     court shall make the findings of fact and conclusions of law

1-10     required by the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure in a manner that

1-11     properly presents the case to an appellate court, including, when

1-12     specifically requested, findings relating to the character and

1-13     value of assets and debts.

1-14           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and

1-15     applies only to findings of fact and conclusions of law in a suit

1-16     for dissolution of marriage that are made on or after that date.

1-17     Findings of fact and conclusions of law in a suit for dissolution

1-18     of marriage that are made before the effective date of this Act are

1-19     governed by the law as it existed immediately before that date, and

1-20     that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

1-21           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-22     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-23     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-24     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-1     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.