HBA-CBW, JLV H.B. 1552 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1552 By: Reyna, Arthur Juvenile Justice & Family Issues 3/5/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, in the state of Texas if a married couple chooses to separate, there is no mechanism that the couple can follow to enter into a legal separation. For a couple to enter into a legally recognized agreement of terms regarding living situations, financial support, or custody, the couple must file for divorce. House Bill 1552 allows couples to enter into a legal separation for one year. 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 1552 amends the Family Code to authorize a spouse to file with the clerk of court a notice of legal separation from the person's spouse. The bill provides that if a suit for dissolution of marriage is not filed by either of the parties to the marriage before the first anniversary of the date the notice of legal separation was filed, the separation is dissolved. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.