H.B. No. 331
AN ACT
relating to the sealing of certain court documents filed
electronically in a child protection suit.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 262, Family Code, is
amended by adding Section 262.011 to read as follows:
Sec. 262.011. SEALING OF COURT RECORDS FILED
ELECTRONICALLY. For purposes of determining whether to seal
documents in accordance with Rule 76a, Texas Rules of Civil
Procedure, in a suit under this subtitle, the court shall consider
documents filed through an electronic filing system in the same
manner as any other document filed with the court.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a
suit affecting the parent-child relationship that is pending in a
trial court on or filed on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. 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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 331 was passed by the House on April
30, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 331 was passed by the Senate on May
22, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor