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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to substituted service of citation through a social media |
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website. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 17, Civil Practice and |
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Remedies Code, is amended by adding Section 17.031 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 17.031. SUBSTITUTED SERVICE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA |
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WEBSITE. (a) If substituted service of citation is authorized |
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under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, the court may prescribe as |
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a method of service under those rules an electronic communication |
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sent to the defendant through a social media website if the court |
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finds that: |
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(1) the defendant maintains a social media page on |
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that website; |
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(2) the profile on the social media page is the profile |
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of the defendant; |
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(3) the defendant regularly accesses the social media |
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page account; and |
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(4) the defendant could reasonably be expected to |
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receive actual notice if the electronic communication were sent to |
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the defendant's account. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 22.004, Government Code, the |
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supreme court may not amend or adopt rules in conflict with this |
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section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |