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  H.B. No. 2780
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to obsolete references to the Texas Probate Code.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 71.012 and 71.022, Civil Practice and
  Remedies Code, are amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 71.012.  QUALIFICATION OF FOREIGN PERSONAL
  REPRESENTATIVE.  If the executor or administrator of the estate of
  a nonresident individual is the plaintiff in an action under this
  subchapter, the foreign personal representative of the estate who
  has complied with the requirements of Chapter 503, Estates [Section
  95, Texas Probate] Code, for the probate of a foreign will is not
  required to apply for ancillary letters testamentary under Section
  501.006, Estates Code, to bring and prosecute the action.
         Sec. 71.022.  QUALIFICATION OF FOREIGN PERSONAL
  REPRESENTATIVE.  If the executor or administrator of the estate of
  a nonresident individual is the plaintiff in an action under this
  subchapter, the foreign personal representative of the estate who
  has complied with the requirements of Chapter 503, Estates [Section
  95, Texas Probate] Code, for the probate of a foreign will is not
  required to apply for ancillary letters testamentary under Section
  501.006, Estates Code, to bring and prosecute the action.
         SECTION 2.  Section 54.241(d), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (d)  A spouse or dependent child of a member of the Armed
  Forces of the United States, who is not assigned to duty in Texas
  but who has previously resided in Texas for a six-month period, is
  entitled to pay the tuition fees and other fees or charges provided
  for Texas residents for a term or semester at an institution of
  higher education if the member:
               (1)  at least one year preceding the first day of the
  term or semester executed a document with the applicable military
  service that is in effect on the first day of the term or semester
  and that:
                     (A)  indicates that the member's permanent
  residence address is in Texas; and
                     (B)  designates Texas as the member's place of
  legal residence for income tax purposes;
               (2)  has been registered to vote in Texas for the entire
  year preceding the first day of the term or semester; and
               (3)  satisfies at least one of the following
  requirements:
                     (A)  for the entire year preceding the first day
  of the term or semester has owned real property in Texas and in that
  time has not been delinquent in the payment of any taxes on the
  property;
                     (B)  has had an automobile registered in Texas for
  the entire year preceding the first day of the term or semester; or
                     (C)  at least one year preceding the first day of
  the term or semester executed a will that has not been revoked or
  superseded indicating that the member is a resident of this state
  and deposited the will with the county clerk of the county of the
  member's residence under Subchapter A, Chapter 252, Estates
  [Section 71, Texas Probate] Code.
         SECTION 3.  Section 358.060(a), Estates Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  An oil, gas, and mineral lease executed by a personal
  representative [under the former Texas Probate Code or this code]
  may be amended by an instrument that provides that a shut-in gas
  well on the land covered by the lease or on land pooled with all or
  part of the land covered by the lease continues the lease in effect
  after the lease's five-year primary term.
         SECTION 4.  Section 358.201, Estates Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 358.201.  AUTHORIZATION FOR EXECUTION OF AGREEMENTS.
  As to any mineral lease or pooling or unitization agreement,
  executed on behalf of an estate [before January 1, 1956, or on or
  after that date under the provisions of the former Texas Probate
  Code or this code,] or [executed] by a former owner of land,
  minerals, or royalty affected by the lease or agreement, the
  personal representative of the estate being administered may,
  without further court order and without consideration, execute:
               (1)  division orders;
               (2)  transfer orders;
               (3)  instruments of correction;
               (4)  instruments designating depository banks for the
  receipt of delay rentals or shut-in gas well royalty to accrue or
  become payable under the terms of the lease; and
               (5)  similar instruments relating to the lease or
  agreement and the property covered by the lease or agreement.
         SECTION 5.  Section 1160.060(a), Estates Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  An oil, gas, and mineral lease executed by a guardian of
  an estate [under this chapter or former Chapter XIII, Texas Probate
  Code,] may be amended by an instrument that provides that a shut-in
  gas well on the land covered by the lease or on land pooled with all
  or part of the land covered by the lease continues the lease in
  effect after the lease's five-year primary term.
         SECTION 6.  Section 81.1011(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  Notwithstanding Section 81.101(a), the "practice of
  law" does not include technical advice, consultation, and document
  completion assistance provided by an employee or volunteer of an
  area agency on aging affiliated with the Health and Human Services
  Commission [Texas Department on Aging] who meets the requirements
  of Subsection (b) if that advice, consultation, and assistance
  relates to:
               (1)  a medical power of attorney or other advance
  directive under Chapter 166, Health and Safety Code; or
               (2)  a designation of guardian before need arises under
  Section 1104.202, Estates [679, Texas Probate] Code.
         SECTION 7.  Section 313.004(b), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Any dispute as to the right of a party to act as a
  surrogate decision-maker may be resolved only by a court of record
  having jurisdiction of proceedings under Title 3, Estates [Chapter
  V, Texas Probate] Code.
         SECTION 8.  Section 552.018(e), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (e)  For the purposes of this section, the following are not
  considered to be trusts and are not entitled to the exemption
  provided by this section:
               (1)  a guardianship administered [established under
  the former Texas Probate Code or] under the Estates Code;
               (2)  a trust established under Chapter 142, Property
  Code;
               (3)  a facility custodial account established under
  Section 551.003;
               (4)  the provisions of a divorce decree or other court
  order relating to child support obligations;
               (5)  an administration of a decedent's estate; or
               (6)  an arrangement in which funds are held in the
  registry or by the clerk of a court.
         SECTION 9.  Section 593.081(f), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (f)  For the purposes of this section, the following are not
  considered to be trusts and are not entitled to the exemption
  provided by this section:
               (1)  a guardianship administered [established under
  the former Texas Probate Code or] under the Estates Code;
               (2)  a trust established under Chapter 142, Property
  Code;
               (3)  a facility custodial account established under
  Section 551.003;
               (4)  the provisions of a divorce decree or other court
  order relating to child support obligations;
               (5)  an administration of a decedent's estate; or
               (6)  an arrangement in which funds are held in the
  registry or by the clerk of a court.
         SECTION 10.  Section 594.036(b), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Notice shall also be served on the parents if the
  resident is a minor and on the guardian for the resident's person if
  the resident has been declared to be incapacitated [as provided by
  the former Texas Probate Code or the Estates Code] and a guardian
  has been appointed in a proceeding under Title 3, Estates Code.
         SECTION 11.  Section 258.104(b), Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Consent for the release of privileged information must
  be in writing and be signed by:
               (1)  the patient;
               (2)  a parent or legal guardian of the patient, if the
  patient is a minor;
               (3)  a legal guardian of the patient, if the patient has
  been adjudicated incompetent to manage the patient's personal
  affairs;
               (4)  an attorney ad litem appointed for the patient, as
  authorized by:
                     (A)  Chapter 107, Family Code;
                     (B)  Subtitle B, Title 6, Health and Safety Code;
                     (C)  Subtitle C, Title 7, Health and Safety Code;
                     (D)  Subtitle D, Title 7, Health and Safety Code;
                     (E)  Subtitle E, Title 7, Health and Safety Code;
                     (F)  Chapter 1054, Estates [V, Texas Probate]
  Code; or
                     (G)  any other law; or
               (5)  a personal representative of the patient, if the
  patient is deceased.
         SECTION 12.  Section 41.0021(e), Property Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (e)  This section does not affect the rights of a surviving
  spouse or surviving children under Section 52, Article XVI, Texas
  Constitution, or Chapter 353, Estates [Part 3, Chapter VIII, Texas
  Probate] Code.
         SECTION 13.  Section 112.034(a), Property Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  If a settlor transfers both the legal title and all
  equitable interests in property to the same person or retains both
  the legal title and all equitable interests in property in himself
  as both the sole trustee and the sole beneficiary, a trust is not
  created and the transferee holds the property as his own. This
  subtitle does not invalidate a trust account validly created and in
  effect under Chapter 113, Estates [XI, Texas Probate] Code.
         SECTION 14.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2780 was passed by the House on May 2,
  2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2780 was passed by the Senate on May
  21, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor