84R8803 AJA-F
By: Thompson of Harris H.B. No. 1851
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to promulgation of certain forms for use in
landlord-tenant matters.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 22, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 22.019 to read as follows:
Sec. 22.019. PROMULGATION OF CERTAIN LANDLORD-TENANT
FORMS. (a) The supreme court shall, as the court finds
appropriate, promulgate forms for use by individuals representing
themselves in residential landlord-tenant matters and instructions
for the proper use of each form or set of forms.
(b) The forms and instructions:
(1) must be written in plain language that is easy to
understand by the general public;
(2) shall be made readily available to the general
public in the manner prescribed by the supreme court; and
(3) must be translated into the Spanish language as
provided by Subsection (c).
(c) The Spanish language translation of a form must:
(1) state:
(A) that the Spanish language translated form is
to be used solely for the purpose of assisting in understanding the
form and may not be submitted to the court; and
(B) that the English language version of the form
must be submitted to the court; or
(2) be incorporated into the English language version
of the form in a manner that is understandable to both the court and
members of the general public.
(d) Each form and its instructions must clearly and
conspicuously state that the form is not a substitute for the advice
of an attorney.
(e) The clerk of a court shall inform members of the general
public of the availability of a form promulgated by the supreme
court under this section as appropriate and make the form available
free of charge.
(f) A court shall accept a form promulgated by the supreme
court under this section unless the form has been completed in a
manner that causes a substantive defect that cannot be cured.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2015.