By: Watson, Zaffirini S.B. No. 1440
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to orders and judgments rendered by associate judges in
  child support and child protection cases.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subsection (a), Section 201.1041, Family Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  If a request for a de novo hearing before the referring
  court is not timely filed or the right to a de novo hearing before
  the referring court is waived, the proposed order or judgment of the
  associate judge, other than a proposed order or judgment providing
  for enforcement by contempt or the immediate incarceration of a
  party, shall become the order or judgment of the referring court by
  operation of law without the signature of the judge of the referring
  court or ratification by the referring court.
         SECTION 2.  Subsection (a), Section 201.2041, Family Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  If a request for a de novo hearing before the referring
  court is not timely filed or the right to a de novo hearing before
  the referring court is waived, the proposed order or judgment of the
  associate judge becomes the order or judgment of the referring
  court by operation of law without the signature of the judge of the
  referring court or ratification by the referring court.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2009.