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AN ACT
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relating to the promulgation of certain forms for use in |
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landlord-tenant matters. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 22, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 22.019 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 22.019. PROMULGATION OF CERTAIN LANDLORD-TENANT |
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FORMS. (a) The supreme court shall, as the court finds |
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appropriate, promulgate forms for use by individuals representing |
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themselves in residential landlord-tenant matters and instructions |
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for the proper use of each form or set of forms. |
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(b) The forms and instructions must: |
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(1) be written in plain language that is easy to |
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understand by the general public; |
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(2) clearly and conspicuously state that the form is |
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not a substitute for the advice of an attorney; |
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(3) be made readily available to the general public in |
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the manner prescribed by the supreme court; and |
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(4) be translated into the Spanish language, and the |
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Spanish language translation of the form must either: |
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(A) state that the Spanish language-translated |
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form is to be used solely for the purpose of assisting in |
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understanding the form and may not be submitted to the court, and |
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that the English version of the form must be submitted to the court; |
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or |
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(B) be incorporated into the English language |
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form in a manner that is understandable to both the court and |
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members of the public. |
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(c) The clerk of a court shall inform members of the public |
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of the availability of the form as appropriate and make the form |
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available free of charge. |
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(d) A court shall accept a form promulgated by the supreme |
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court under this section unless the form has been completed in a |
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manner that causes a substantive defect that cannot be cured. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 478 passed the Senate on |
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March 31, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 478 passed the House on |
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May 22, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 138, Nays 2, |
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two present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |