HBA-BSM, LJP H.B. 594 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 594
By: Goodman
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
2/11/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently there is no statute that specifically authorizes a party to
request that a court state in writing its findings of fact and conclusions
of law in relation to the character of assets, the values of the community
assets, and the amount of reimbursement claims and offsets recognized by
the courts in a suit for dissolution of a marriage. House Bill 594
authorizes a party to request such findings of fact and conclusions of law,
which in turn will help these cases be properly reviewed on appeal. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 594 amends the Family Code to require a court upon a request to
state in writing its findings of fact and conclusions of law in a suit for
dissolution of a marriage in which a court has rendered a judgment dividing
the estate of the parties.  The bill requires the findings of fact and
conclusions of law to include the character of the disputed assets, value
of the community assets and liabilities on which disputed evidence has been
presented, and the amount of reimbursement claims and offsets found by the
court to be equitable. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.