HBA-BSM H.B. 594 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 594 By: Goodman Juvenile Justice & Family Issues 7/25/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Prior to the 77th Legislature, there was no statute that specifically authorized a party to request that a court state in writing its findings of fact and conclusions of law in a suit for dissolution of a marriage in which a court rendered a judgment dividing the estate of the parties. House Bill 594 authorizes a party to request findings of fact and conclusions of law, which will help these cases be properly reviewed on appeal. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 594 amends the Family Code to require a court upon request to state in writing its findings of fact and conclusions of law in a suit for dissolution of a marriage in which a court has rendered a judgment dividing the estate of the parties. The bill requires the findings of fact and conclusions of law to include the characterization of each party's assets, liabilities, claims, and offsets on which disputed evidence has been presented and the value or amount of the community estate's assets, liabilities, claims, and offsets on which disputed evidence has been presented. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.