80R6972 JMM-D
 
  By: Zedler H.B. No. 1705
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the waiting period for issuing a decree in a suit for
divorce.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Section 6.702, Family Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
follows:
       (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), the [The] court
may not grant a divorce before the 270th [60th] day after the date
the suit was filed. A decree rendered in violation of this section
[subsection] is not subject to collateral attack.
       (c)  The court may not grant a divorce before the 60th day
after the date the suit was filed if:
             (1)  the divorce is sought on the grounds of:
                   (A)  adultery; or
                   (B)  conviction of a felony; or
             (2)  the petitioner alleges that the respondent:
                   (A)  is an alcoholic or abuses drugs; or
                   (B)  has committed family violence.
       SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a suit for dissolution of a marriage filed on or after the
effective date of this Act. A suit for dissolution of a marriage
filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law
in effect on the date the suit was filed, and the former law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
       SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.