BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2422

By: Thompson

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, the clerk of the court is required to mail out a final decree of dissolution of a marriage. Interested parties note, however, that the petitioner in such a suit is more likely to have a current address for the party who waived service of process and that it would save the courts money by requiring the petitioner to mail the decree.  The parties assert that legislation is needed to require the petitioner, instead of the clerk of the court, to mail the final decree of dissolution of a marriage to the party who waived service.  H.B. 2422 seeks to achieve this goal.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2422 amends the Family Code to require the petitioner in a suit for dissolution of a marriage, rather than the clerk of the court, to mail a copy of the final decree of dissolution of a marriage to the party who waived service of process.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.