By Longoria H.B. No. 465 77R1725 KSD-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to a suit for a legal separation in a marriage. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 6, Family Code, is amended 1-5 by adding Section 6.309 to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 6.309. LEGAL SEPARATION. (a) A spouse may file a suit 1-7 to obtain from the court an order of legal separation from the 1-8 person's spouse. 1-9 (b) A court may render an order of legal separation on any 1-10 grounds that a court may grant a divorce under Subchapter A. 1-11 (c) If a suit for dissolution of marriage is not filed by 1-12 either of the parties to the marriage before the first anniversary 1-13 of the date the order of legal separation was rendered, the 1-14 separation is dissolved. 1-15 (d) To the extent practicable, the procedures in this 1-16 chapter for a suit for a dissolution of marriage apply to a suit 1-17 for legal separation. 1-18 (e) To the extent permitted by law, the parties to a suit in 1-19 which an order of legal separation is rendered may determine by 1-20 agreement child possession and access, child support, property 1-21 rights, and spousal maintenance for the period of legal separation. 1-22 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.