HBA-DMH, MPM H.B. 650 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 650 By: King, Phil Civil Practices 3/19/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, law directs courts to issue instructions on both citations and discovery at all court levels. These instructions serve to inform litigants that sanctions are a possible consequence if they do not follow certain rules. Current law does not apply the same warnings with respect to a sworn account suit. Under the law, a summary judgment may be obtained against a defendant who fails to notarize an answer that a bill has been paid or that another legal defense exists. House Bill 650 provides that a citation served in a sworn account suit must include a statement indicating that unless the respondent files an answer in writing, a summary judgment may result. 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 650 amends the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to provide that a citation served in an action filed as a suit on a sworn account must include the statement: "This action is a suit on a sworn account. Unless you file an answer in writing that is verified by a sufficient affidavit, a summary judgment may be taken against you." EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.