By Goodman                                       H.B. No. 863

      75R3071 SKB-F                           

                                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.  Subchapter C, Chapter 3, Family Code, is amended

 1-6     by adding Section 3.634 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 3.634.  FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW.  A

 1-8     court shall make the findings of fact and conclusions of law

 1-9     required by the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure in a manner that

1-10     properly presents the case to an appellate court, including, when

1-11     specifically requested, findings relating to the character and

1-12     value of assets and debts.

1-13           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and

1-14     applies only to findings of fact and conclusions of law in a suit

1-15     for dissolution of marriage that are made on or after that date.

1-16     Findings of fact and conclusions of law in a suit for dissolution

1-17     of marriage that are made before the effective date of this Act are

1-18     governed by the law as it existed immediately before that date, and

1-19     that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

1-20           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-21     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-22     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-23     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-24     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.