| 1 | 1 | | 84R1563 EES-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Lucio III H.B. No. 1827 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the use of digitized signatures in certain family law |
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| 8 | 8 | | proceedings. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 1, Family Code, is amended |
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| 11 | 11 | | by adding Section 1.109 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 1.109. USE OF DIGITIZED SIGNATURE. (a) A digitized |
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| 13 | 13 | | signature on an original petition under this title or any other |
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| 14 | 14 | | pleading or order in a proceeding under this title satisfies the |
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| 15 | 15 | | requirements for and imposes the duties of signatories to |
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| 16 | 16 | | pleadings, motions, and other papers identified under Rule 13, |
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| 17 | 17 | | Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. |
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| 18 | 18 | | (b) A digitized signature under this section may be applied |
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| 19 | 19 | | only by, and must remain under the sole control of, the person whose |
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| 20 | 20 | | signature is represented. |
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| 21 | 21 | | SECTION 2. Title 2, Family Code, is amended by adding |
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| 22 | 22 | | Subtitle E to read as follows: |
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| 23 | 23 | | SUBTITLE E. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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| 24 | 24 | | CHAPTER 47. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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| 25 | 25 | | Sec. 47.001. USE OF DIGITIZED SIGNATURE. (a) A digitized |
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| 26 | 26 | | signature on an original petition or application under this title |
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| 27 | 27 | | or any other pleading or order in a proceeding under this title |
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| 28 | 28 | | satisfies the requirements for and imposes the duties of |
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| 29 | 29 | | signatories to pleadings, motions, and other papers identified |
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| 30 | 30 | | under Rule 13, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. |
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| 31 | 31 | | (b) A digitized signature under this section may be applied |
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| 32 | 32 | | only by, and must remain under the sole control of, the person whose |
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| 33 | 33 | | signature is represented. |
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| 34 | 34 | | (c) In this section, "digitized signature" has the meaning |
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| 35 | 35 | | assigned by Section 101.0096. |
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| 36 | 36 | | SECTION 3. Chapter 81, Family Code, is amended by adding |
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| 37 | 37 | | Section 81.011 to read as follows: |
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| 38 | 38 | | Sec. 81.011. USE OF DIGITIZED SIGNATURE. (a) A digitized |
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| 39 | 39 | | signature on an application for a protective order under this title |
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| 40 | 40 | | or any other pleading or order in a proceeding under this title |
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| 41 | 41 | | satisfies the requirements for and imposes the duties of |
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| 42 | 42 | | signatories to pleadings, motions, and other papers identified |
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| 43 | 43 | | under Rule 13, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. |
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| 44 | 44 | | (b) A digitized signature under this section may be applied |
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| 45 | 45 | | only by, and must remain under the sole control of, the person whose |
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| 46 | 46 | | signature is represented. |
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| 47 | 47 | | SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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| 48 | 48 | | a proceeding that is commenced on or after the effective date of |
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| 49 | 49 | | this Act. A proceeding that is commenced before that date is |
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| 50 | 50 | | governed by the law in effect on the date the proceeding was |
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| 51 | 51 | | commenced, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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| 52 | 52 | | purpose. |
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| 53 | 53 | | SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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