H.B. No. 821




AN ACT
relating to the methods of providing notice of an associate judge's report in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Sections 201.011(c) and (d), Family Code, are amended to read as follows: (c) Notice may be given to the parties: (1) in open court, by an oral statement or a copy of the associate judge's written report, including any proposed order; [or] (2) by certified mail, return receipt requested; or (3) by facsimile transmission. (d) The associate judge shall certify the date of mailing of notice by certified mail or the date of the facsimile transmission. There is a rebuttable presumption that notice is received on the date stated on: (1) the signed return receipt, if notice was provided by certified mail; or (2) the confirmation page produced by the facsimile machine, if notice was provided by facsimile transmission [Notice is considered given on the third day after the date of mailing]. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 821 was passed by the House on March 28, 2003, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 821 was passed by the Senate on May 20, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor