By Thompson                                           H.B. No. 2261

         75R7759 MLS-F                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to providing the court with certain information regarding

 1-3     a party in a civil action.

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

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 30, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is

 1-6     amended by adding Section 30.015 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 30.015.  PROVISION OF CURRENT ADDRESS OF PARTY IN CIVIL

 1-8     ACTION.  (a)  In a civil action, each party or the party's attorney

 1-9     must provide the clerk of the court with written notice of the

1-10     party's name and current residence or business address.

1-11           (b)  The notice required by Subsection (a) must be provided

1-12     at the time the party files its initial pleading with the court, or

1-13     not later than the seventh day after the date the clerk of the

1-14     court requests the information.

1-15           (c)  If the party's address changes during the course of a

1-16     civil action, the party or the party's attorney must provide the

1-17     clerk of the court with written notice of the party's new address.

1-18           (d)  If the party or the party's attorney fails to provide

1-19     the notice required by Subsection (a), the trial court may assess a

1-20     fine of not more than $50.

1-21           (e)  It is a defense to a fine assessed under this section

1-22     that the party or the party's attorney could not reasonably obtain

1-23     and provide the information required by Subsection (a).

1-24           (f)  Information provided to a clerk of a court under this

 2-1     section is confidential and may not be disclosed to the public

 2-2     without the express authorization of the court.

 2-3           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and

 2-4     applies only to suits filed on or after the effective date of this

 2-5     Act.

 2-6           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-7     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-8     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-9     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-10     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

2-11                          COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1

2-12           Amend H.B. No. 2261 On page 1, line 11, by adding a new

2-13     subsection (b) to read as follows and renumber the subsequent

2-14     subsections:

2-15           (b)  The notice required under subsection (a) may not be

2-16     required from any party or party's attorney if such party has not

2-17     appeared or answered in the civil action.

2-18                                                                 Zbranek

2-19                          COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 2

2-20           Amend H.B. 2261 on page 1, lines 19-20, by striking the words

2-21     "a fine" and inserting "an additional cost".

2-22                                                                 Goodman