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By: Goldman (Senate Sponsor - Hancock) |
H.B. No. 3879 |
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(In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 2017; |
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May 10, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on Business & |
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Commerce; May 22, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable |
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Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 1; |
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May 22, 2017, sent to printer.) |
Click here to see the committee vote |
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COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 3879 |
By: Estes |
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to nonlawyer representation in an appeal of an eviction |
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suit. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 24.011, Property Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 24.011. NONLAWYER REPRESENTATION. (a) In eviction |
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suits in justice court for nonpayment of rent or holding over beyond |
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a rental term, the parties may represent themselves or be |
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represented by their authorized agents, who need not be attorneys. |
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In any eviction suit in justice court, an authorized agent |
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requesting or obtaining a default judgment need not be an attorney. |
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(b) In an appeal of an eviction suit for nonpayment of rent |
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in a county or district court, the parties may represent |
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themselves, or a party may be represented by the party's authorized |
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agent, who need not be an attorney, including, if the party is a |
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corporation or other entity, by an employee, owner, officer, or |
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partner of the entity, who need not be an attorney. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an appeal taken on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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