HBA-MSH H.B. 2557 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2557 By: Jones, Elizabeth Civil Practices 3/19/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Occasionally, a person owed money as a result of a judgment on a claim (judgment creditor) will refuse to accept payment from the other party to a suit (judgment debtor) in order to adversely affect the credit rating of the judgment debtor, which can have financial repercussions beyond the amount owed under the judgment. House Bill 2556 provides for the issuance of a recordable release of judgment if the judgment creditor refuses to accept payment. 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 2557 amends the Civil Practices and Remedies Code to authorize a judgment debtor who fulfills specified notification requirements to pay to the court that rendered the judgment the money owed under the judgment to a judgment creditor whose location is unknown to the judgment debtor or who refuses to accept payment. The bill requires a clerk of the court to issue a recordable release of judgment if the judgment creditor refuses to accept payment. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.