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.