SB 53

S.B. No. 53
  AN ACT
  relating to certain notice and filing requirements in court
  proceedings involving persons with mental illness.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 571.013, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 571.013.  METHOD OF GIVING NOTICE.  Except as otherwise
  provided by this subtitle, notice required under this subtitle may
  be given:
               (1)  by personal delivery of [delivering] a copy of the
  notice or document by a constable or sheriff of the county; [in
  person] or
               (2)  in another manner directed by the court that is
  reasonably calculated to give actual notice.
         SECTION 2.  Section 571.014(c), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  A person may [initially] file a paper with the county
  clerk by the use of reproduced, photocopied, or electronically
  transmitted paper copies of [if the person files] the original
  signed copies of the paper.  A person who files a reproduced,
  photocopied, or electronically transmitted paper must maintain
  possession of the original signed copies of the paper and on request
  shall make the original paper available for inspection by the
  parties or the court [with the clerk not later than the 72nd hour
  after the hour on which the initial filing is made.  If the 72-hour
  period ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the filing
  period is extended until 4 p.m. on the first succeeding business
  day.  If extremely hazardous weather conditions exist or a disaster
  occurs, the presiding judge or magistrate may by written order made
  each day extend the filing period until 4 p.m. on the first
  succeeding business day.  The written order must declare that an
  emergency exists because of the weather or the occurrence of a
  disaster.  If a person detained under this subtitle would otherwise
  be released because the original signed copy of a paper is not filed
  within the 72-hour period but for the extension of the filing period
  under this section, the person may be detained until the expiration
  of the extended filing period.  This subsection does not affect
  another provision of this subtitle requiring the release or
  discharge of a person].
         SECTION 3.  Section 571.014(d), Health and Safety Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
  ______________________________
  ______________________________
     President of the Senate
  Speaker of the House     
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 53 passed the Senate on
  April 10, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 53 passed the House on
  May 24, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 136, Nays 0, two
  present not voting.
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
  Approved:
  ______________________________ 
              Date
  ______________________________ 
            Governor