84R1563 EES-F
By: Lucio III H.B. No. 1827
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of digitized signatures in certain family law
proceedings.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 1, Family Code, is amended
by adding Section 1.109 to read as follows:
Sec. 1.109. USE OF DIGITIZED SIGNATURE. (a) A digitized
signature on an original petition under this title or any other
pleading or order in a proceeding under this title satisfies the
requirements for and imposes the duties of signatories to
pleadings, motions, and other papers identified under Rule 13,
Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.
(b) A digitized signature under this section may be applied
only by, and must remain under the sole control of, the person whose
signature is represented.
SECTION 2. Title 2, Family Code, is amended by adding
Subtitle E to read as follows:
SUBTITLE E. GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 47. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 47.001. USE OF DIGITIZED SIGNATURE. (a) A digitized
signature on an original petition or application under this title
or any other pleading or order in a proceeding under this title
satisfies the requirements for and imposes the duties of
signatories to pleadings, motions, and other papers identified
under Rule 13, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.
(b) A digitized signature under this section may be applied
only by, and must remain under the sole control of, the person whose
signature is represented.
(c) In this section, "digitized signature" has the meaning
assigned by Section 101.0096.
SECTION 3. Chapter 81, Family Code, is amended by adding
Section 81.011 to read as follows:
Sec. 81.011. USE OF DIGITIZED SIGNATURE. (a) A digitized
signature on an application for a protective order under this title
or any other pleading or order in a proceeding under this title
satisfies the requirements for and imposes the duties of
signatories to pleadings, motions, and other papers identified
under Rule 13, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.
(b) A digitized signature under this section may be applied
only by, and must remain under the sole control of, the person whose
signature is represented.
SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
a proceeding that is commenced on or after the effective date of
this Act. A proceeding that is commenced before that date is
governed by the law in effect on the date the proceeding was
commenced, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.