HBA-JLV H.B. 898 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 898
By: Thompson
Judicial Affairs
3/13/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law provides that in order for a guardian to sell property on
behalf of a ward, the guardian must apply to the court for the authority to
sell, obtain an order of sale, enter the contract, report the contract,
obtain approval of the contract, convey the property, and report the sale.
The law governing guardianship procedure in Texas involves multiple steps,
and therefore, some consider the process expensive.  In 1993, the
legislature expedited the procedure for wards with a relatively small
interest.  An increase in the amount of the ward's interest to $100,000 may
allow the expedited process to be used more frequently.  House Bill 898
increases the maximum value of a ward's interest in property from $50,000
to $100,000. 

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 898 amends the Texas Probate Code to increase from $50,000 to
$100,000 the  maximum value of real or personal property that a natural or
adoptive parent or the managing conservator is authorized to sell on behalf
of the minor. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.