By: Wu, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Kolkhorst) H.B. No. 331
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 4, 2015;
  May 5, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on State
  Affairs; May 18, 2015, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 18, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the sealing of certain court documents filed
  electronically in a child protection suit.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 262, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Section 262.011 to read as follows:
         Sec. 262.011.  SEALING OF COURT RECORDS FILED
  ELECTRONICALLY. For purposes of determining whether to seal
  documents in accordance with Rule 76a, Texas Rules of Civil
  Procedure, in a suit under this subtitle, the court shall consider
  documents filed through an electronic filing system in the same
  manner as any other document filed with the court.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies to a
  suit affecting the parent-child relationship that is pending in a
  trial court on or filed on or after the effective date of this Act.
         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, 2015.
 
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