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