SRC-JEC H.B. 594 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 594 By: Goodman (Harris) Jurisprudence 4/24/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently there is no statute that specifically authorizes a person to request a court to state in writing its findings of fact and conclusions of law regarding a suit for dissolution of a marriage in which a court has divided the estate. H.B. 594 authorizes a party to request such findings of fact and conclusions of law, which can aid the review of these cases on appeal. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 6H, Family Code, by adding Section 6.711, as follows: Sec. 6.711. FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW. (a) Requires a court, in a suit for dissolution of a marriage in which the court has rendered a judgment dividing the estate of the parties, on request of a party, to state in writing its findings of fact and conclusions of law concerning the characterization of each party's assets, liabilities, claims, and offsets on which disputed evidence has been presented, and the value or amount of the community estate's assets, liabilities, claims, and offsets on which disputed evidence has been presented. (b) Requires a request for findings of fact and conclusions of law under this section to conform to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001. Makes application of this Act prospective.