By: Whitmire S.B. No. 1176 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to the validity of certain devises or bequests. 1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-3 SECTION 1. Chapter IV, Texas Probate Code, is amended by 1-4 adding Section 58b to read as follows: 1-5 Sec. 58b. DEVISES AND BEQUESTS THAT ARE VOID. (a) A devise 1-6 or bequest of property in a will to an attorney who prepares or 1-7 supervises the preparation of the will or a devise or bequest of 1-8 property in a will to an heir or employee of the attorney who 1-9 prepares or supervises the preparation of the will is void. 1-10 (b) This section does not apply to a bequest made to a 1-11 person who is related within the second degree by consanguinity or 1-12 affinity to the testator. 1-13 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and 1-14 applies only to a will executed on or after that date. A will 1-15 executed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the 1-16 law in effect on the date the will was executed, and that law is 1-17 continued in effect for that purpose. 1-18 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-19 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-20 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-21 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-22 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.