HBA-CBW, JLV H.B. 1552 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1552
By: Reyna, Arthur
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
3/5/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, in the state of Texas if a married couple chooses to separate,
there is no mechanism that the couple can follow to enter into a legal
separation. For a couple to enter into a legally recognized agreement of
terms regarding living situations, financial support, or custody, the
couple  must file for divorce. House Bill 1552 allows couples to enter into
a legal separation for one year. 

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 1552 amends the Family Code to authorize a spouse to file with
the clerk of court a notice of legal separation from the person's spouse.
The bill provides that if a suit for dissolution of marriage is not filed
by either of the parties to the marriage before the first anniversary of
the date the notice of legal separation was filed, the separation is
dissolved. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.