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.