HBA-KMH H.B. 955 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 955
By: Uher
Judicial Affairs
1/28/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, state law does not require written notification to each party
(or the party's attorney of record) by the office of the attorney general
of the name, telephone number, and facsimile number of the assistant
attorney general, who is the attorney of record in the case, or of changes
in any of this information.  H.B. 955 requires the office of the attorney
general to provide this information to the parties and their attorneys. 

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. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 402, Government Code, by adding
Section 402.029, as follows: 

Sec.  402.029.  NOTICE OF ATTORNEY OF RECORD.  Applies this section to any
case in which the office of the attorney general (OAG) represents a party.
Requires the OAG to provide each party or the party's attorney of record
with written notice of the name, telephone number, and facsimile number of
the assistant attorney general who is the attorney of record in the case
and written notice of any change in the information. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.  Applies this Act to all
cases either pending or filed on or after the effective date of this Act in
which the hearing, trial, or any new trial or retrial following motion,
appeal, or otherwise begins on or after that date. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.