Bill Text: TX SB498 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Relating to the use of person first respectful language instead of the term "ward."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-05-23 - Record vote [SB498 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-SB498-Comm_Sub.html
By: Zaffirini | S.B. No. 498 | |
(Neave) | ||
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relating to the use of person first respectful language instead of | ||
the term "ward." | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 22.033, Estates Code, is amended to read | ||
as follows: | ||
Sec. 22.033. WARD; PERSON WITH A GUARDIAN. "Ward" or | ||
"person with a guardian" means a person for whom a guardian has been | ||
appointed. | ||
SECTION 2. Chapter 1001, Estates Code, is amended by adding | ||
Section 1001.004 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 1001.004. USE OF PERSON FIRST RESPECTFUL LANGUAGE | ||
INSTEAD OF WARD. (a) The legislature, the Texas Legislative | ||
Council, and other state agencies and entities are directed to | ||
avoid using the term "ward" in any new provision of law and are | ||
directed to replace, as appropriate, that term in any existing law | ||
as that existing law is otherwise amended with the following | ||
preferred terms or phrases or appropriate variations of those terms | ||
or phrases: | ||
(1) "person"; | ||
(2) "incapacitated person"; and | ||
(3) "person with a guardian." | ||
(b) A law is not invalid solely because it does not employ | ||
this section's preferred terms or phrases. | ||
SECTION 3. Section 1002.026, Estates Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 1002.026. PROPOSED WARD; ALLEGED INCAPACITATED | ||
PERSON. "Proposed ward" or "alleged incapacitated person" means a | ||
person alleged in a guardianship proceeding to be incapacitated. | ||
SECTION 4. Section 1002.030, Estates Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 1002.030. WARD; PERSON WITH A GUARDIAN. "Ward" or | ||
"person with a guardian" means a person for whom a guardian has been | ||
appointed. | ||
SECTION 5. Section 155.001(7), Government Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(7) "Ward" or "person with a guardian" has the meaning | ||
assigned by Chapter 1002, Estates [ |
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Code. | ||
SECTION 6. Section 411.114(a)(1)(E), Government Code, is | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(E) "Ward" or "person with a guardian" has the | ||
meaning assigned by Chapter 1002, Estates [ |
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SECTION 7. Section 240.002(15), Property Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(15) "Ward" or "person with a guardian" has the | ||
meaning assigned by Section 22.033, Estates Code. | ||
SECTION 8. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails | ||
over another Act of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, | ||
relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted | ||
codes. | ||
SECTION 9. 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, 2017. |