83R2869 TJS-F
	By: Raymond	H.B. No. 2878

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to certain procedures in certain civil actions.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 30, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is
	amended by adding Sections 30.019 and 30.020 to read as follows:
	Sec. 30.019.  STANDARDIZED FORMS. (a) In this section,
	"standardized form" means a form promulgated by the supreme court
	under Section 22.003, Government Code, for use in a civil action in
	a trial court of this state, including a petition or answer, notice,
	motion, proposed order, or other pleading. The term includes any
	instructions promulgated for use with the form.
	(b)  Notwithstanding Section 22.004, Government Code, the
	supreme court may not amend or adopt rules in conflict with this
	section.
	(c)  A court may not grant relief or enter an order using or
	relying on a standardized form that does not comply with
	substantive or procedural law.
	(d)  A standardized form may not be used for a purpose other
	than the purpose stated in the order approving the standardized
	form.
	(e)  A court may not accept a standardized form that is:
	(1)  prepared in a manner inconsistent with the
	instructions promulgated for use with the form; or
	(2)  submitted for a use other than the use authorized
	by the order adopting the standardized form.
	(f)  The clerk of a court may not complete, assist in
	completing, or advise a party concerning the completion of a
	standardized form.
	(g)  This section does not apply to a standardized form used
	in an action to seek or enforce a protective order under Title 4,
	Family Code.
	Sec. 30.020.  SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGATION. (a) In this
	section, "self-represented litigant" means a party to a civil
	action who is not represented by an attorney.
	(b)  Except as otherwise provided by law or a court order:
	(1)  a party is not required to be represented by an
	attorney in a civil action; and
	(2)  a self-represented litigant is subject to the same
	substantive and procedural law as a person who is represented by an
	attorney.
	SECTION 2.  Section 7.003, Family Code, is amended to read as
	follows:
	Sec. 7.003.  DISPOSITION OF RETIREMENT AND EMPLOYMENT
	BENEFITS AND OTHER PLANS. (a) In a decree of divorce or annulment,
	the court shall determine the rights of both spouses in a pension,
	retirement plan, annuity, individual retirement account, employee
	stock option plan, stock option, or other form of savings, bonus,
	profit-sharing, or other employer plan or financial plan of an
	employee or a participant, regardless of whether the person is
	self-employed, in the nature of compensation or savings.
	(b)  In a suit for dissolution of a marriage in which either
	spouse is a self-represented litigant, as defined by Section
	30.020, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, and files any
	standardized form, as defined by Section 30.019, Civil Practice and
	Remedies Code, the court may not enter a decree of divorce or
	annulment until each spouse:
	(1)  discloses to the court and to the other spouse the
	existence, nature, and value of a pension, plan, or other account
	described by Subsection (a); or
	(2)  swears that the spouse does not own or have a legal
	or equitable interest in a pension, plan, or other account
	described by Subsection (a).
	SECTION 3.  Section 22.003, Government Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
	(c)  An order of the supreme court adopting a form must
	specify an effective date to be printed conspicuously on the form.
	The effective date must provide for a reasonable period of time
	during which the court will accept public comment on the form before
	it becomes effective.
	SECTION 4.  (a) Section 30.019, Civil Practice and Remedies
	Code, as added by this Act, applies to a standardized form
	promulgated by the Supreme Court of Texas before, on, or after the
	effective date of this Act that is filed in a civil action on or
	after the effective date of this Act. A standardized form that is
	filed in a civil action before the effective date of this Act is
	governed by the law in effect on the date the form is filed, and that
	law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	(b)  Section 30.020, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as
	added by this Act, is intended to clarify existing law with respect
	to the law that applies to a party to civil litigation who is not
	represented by an attorney.
	(c)  Section 7.003, Family Code, as amended by this Act,
	applies only to a suit for dissolution of a marriage filed on or
	after the effective date of this Act. A suit for dissolution filed
	before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in
	effect on the date the suit was filed, and that law is continued in
	effect for that purpose.
	(d)  Section 22.003(c), Government Code, as added by this
	Act, applies to a form promulgated by the Supreme Court of Texas on
	or after the effective date of this Act. A form promulgated by the
	Supreme Court of Texas before the effective date of this Act is
	governed by the law in effect on the date the form was promulgated,
	and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.