By Thompson H.B. No. 539
77R10587 CLG-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to arts, entertainment, advertisement, and sports
1-3 contracts entered into by minors.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Part 5, Chapter XIII, Texas Probate Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Subpart H to read as follows:
1-7 SUBPART H. CONTRACTS IN ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT,
1-8 ADVERTISEMENT, AND SPORTS
1-9 Sec. 901. DEFINITIONS. In this subpart:
1-10 (1) "Advertise" means to solicit or induce, through
1-11 print or electronic media, including radio, television, computer,
1-12 or direct mail, to purchase consumer goods or services.
1-13 (2) "Advertisement contract" means a contract under
1-14 which a person is employed or agrees to advertise consumer goods or
1-15 services.
1-16 (3) "Artist" means:
1-17 (A) an actor who performs in a motion picture,
1-18 theatrical, radio, television, or other entertainment production;
1-19 (B) a musician or musical director;
1-20 (C) a director or producer of a motion picture,
1-21 theatrical, radio, television, or other entertainment production;
1-22 (D) a writer;
1-23 (E) a cinematographer;
1-24 (F) a composer, lyricist, or arranger of musical
2-1 compositions;
2-2 (G) a dancer or choreographer of musical
2-3 productions;
2-4 (H) a model; or
2-5 (I) any other individual who renders analogous
2-6 professional services in a motion picture, theatrical, radio,
2-7 television, or other entertainment production.
2-8 (4) "Arts and entertainment contract" means a contract
2-9 under which:
2-10 (A) an artist is employed or agrees to render
2-11 services in a motion picture, theatrical, radio, television, or
2-12 other entertainment production; or
2-13 (B) a person agrees to purchase, secure, sell,
2-14 lease, license, or otherwise dispose of literary, musical, or
2-15 dramatic tangible or intangible property or any rights in that
2-16 property for use in the field of entertainment, including a motion
2-17 picture, television, the production of phonograph records, or
2-18 theater.
2-19 (5) "Consumer goods" means goods that are used or
2-20 bought for use primarily for personal, family, or household
2-21 purposes.
2-22 (6) "Sports contract" means a contract under which an
2-23 athlete is employed or agrees to participate, compete, or engage in
2-24 a sports or athletic activity at a professional or amateur sports
2-25 event or athletic event.
2-26 Sec. 902. CONSTRUCTION. This subpart may not be construed to
2-27 authorize the making of a contract that binds a minor beyond the
3-1 seventh anniversary of the date of the contract.
3-2 Sec. 903. APPROVAL OF CERTAIN CONTRACTS OF MINORS; NOT
3-3 VOIDABLE. (a) A court, on petition of the guardian of the estate
3-4 of the minor, may enter an order approving for purposes of this
3-5 subpart an arts and entertainment contract, advertisement contract,
3-6 or sports contract that is entered into by a minor. The court may
3-7 approve the contract only after the guardian of the minor's estate
3-8 provides to the other party to the contract notice of the petition
3-9 and an opportunity to request a hearing in the manner provided by
3-10 the court.
3-11 (b) The approval of a contract under this section extends to
3-12 the contract as a whole and any of the terms and provisions of the
3-13 contract, including any optional or conditional provision in the
3-14 contract relating to the extension or termination of its term.
3-15 (c) A court may withhold approval of a contract under which
3-16 part of the minor's net earnings under the contract will be set
3-17 aside as provided by Section 904 of this code until the guardian of
3-18 the minor's estate executes and files with the court written
3-19 consent to the making of the order.
3-20 (d) An otherwise valid contract approved under this section
3-21 may not be voidable solely on the ground that it was entered into
3-22 by a person during the age of minority.
3-23 (e) Each parent of the minor is a necessary party to a
3-24 proceeding brought under this section.
3-25 Sec. 904. NET EARNINGS OF MINOR; SET ASIDE AND PRESERVATION.
3-26 (a) In this section, "net earnings" means the total amount to be
3-27 received for the services of the minor under the contract less:
4-1 (1) the sum required by law to be paid as taxes to any
4-2 government or governmental agency;
4-3 (2) a reasonable sum to be expended for the support,
4-4 care, maintenance, education, and training of the minor;
4-5 (3) fees and expenses paid in connection with
4-6 procuring the contract or maintaining employment of the minor; and
4-7 (4) attorney's fees for services rendered in
4-8 connection with the contract or any other business of the minor.
4-9 (b) Notwithstanding any other law, the court may require in
4-10 an order approving a contract under Section 903 of this code that a
4-11 portion of the net earnings of the minor under the contract be set
4-12 aside and preserved for the benefit of the minor in a trust created
4-13 under Section 867 of this code or a similar trust created under the
4-14 laws of another state. The amount to be set aside under this
4-15 subsection must be a reasonable amount as determined by the court.
4-16 Sec. 905. GUARDIAN AD LITEM. The court may appoint a
4-17 guardian ad litem for a minor who has entered into an arts and
4-18 entertainment contract, advertisement contract, or sports contract
4-19 if the court finds that appointment of the ad litem would be in the
4-20 best interest of the minor.
4-21 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.