Section 1307(a) is derived from the Senate amendment in preference to a comparable provision contained in the House bill.

Subsections (a) and (b) confirm, without qualification, the rights of a chapter 13 debtor to convert the case to a liquidating bankruptcy case under chapter 7 of title 11, at any time, or to have the chapter 13 case dismissed. Waiver of any such right is unenforceable. Subsection (c) specifies various conditions for the exercise of the power of the court to convert a chapter 13 case to one under chapter 7 or to dismiss the case. Subsection (d) deals with the conversion of a chapter 13 case to one under chapter 11. Subsection (e) prohibits conversion of the chapter 13 case filed by a farmer to chapter 7 or 11 except at the request of the debtor. No case is to be converted from chapter 13 to any other chapter, unless the debtor is an eligible debtor under the new chapter.

Subsection (f) reinforces section 109 by prohibiting conversion to a chapter under which the debtor is not eligible to proceed.

2010—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(a)(41)(A)(i), substituted “subsection (f)” for “subsection (e)” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (c)(9), (10). Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(a)(41)(A)(ii), (iii), substituted “521(a)” for “521”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(a)(41)(B), substituted “subsection (f)” for “subsection (e)”.

2005—Subsec. (c)(11). Pub. L. 109–8, § 213(7), added par. (11).

Subsecs. (e) to (g). Pub. L. 109–8, § 716(c), added subsec. (e) and redesignated former subsecs. (e) and (f) as (f) and (g), respectively.

1986—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–554, § 257(v)(1), inserted reference to section 1208 of this title.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–554, § 229(1)(A), inserted “or the United States trustee” after “party in interest” in provisions preceding par. (1).

Subsec. (c)(9), (10). Pub. L. 99–554, § 229(1)(B)–(D), added pars. (9) and (10).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99–554, § 257(v)(2), inserted reference to chapter 12.

Pub. L. 99–554, § 229(2), inserted “or the United States trustee” after “party in interest”.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 99–554, § 257(v)(3), inserted reference to chapter 12.

1984—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–353, § 527(a), inserted a comma after “time”.

Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 98–353, § 315(2), added par. (4). Former par. (4) redesignated (5).

Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 98–353, §§ 315(1), 527(b)(1), redesignated former par. (4) as (5) and inserted “a request made for” before “additional”. Former par. (5) redesignated (6).

Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 98–353, § 315(1), redesignated former par. (5) as (6). Former par. (6) redesignated (7).

Subsec. (c)(7). Pub. L. 98–353, §§ 315(1), 527(b)(2), redesignated former par. (6) as (7) and substituted “or” for “and”. Former par. (7) redesignated (8).

Subsec. (c)(8). Pub. L. 98–353, §§ 315(1), 527(b)(3), redesignated former par. (7) as (8) and inserted “other than completion of payments under the plan” after “in the plan”.

Amendment by Pub. L. 109–8 effective 180 days after Apr. 20, 2005, and not applicable with respect to cases commenced under this title before such effective date, except as otherwise provided, see section 1501 of Pub. L. 109–8, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Effective date and applicability of amendment by section 229 of Pub. L. 99–554 dependent upon the judicial district involved, see section 302(d), (e) of Pub. L. 99–554, set out as a note under section 581 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

Amendment by section 257 of Pub. L. 99–554 effective 30 days after Oct. 27, 1986, but not applicable to cases commenced under this title before that date, see section 302(a), (c)(1) of Pub. L. 99–554.

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–353 effective with respect to cases filed 90 days after July 10, 1984, see section 552(a) of Pub. L. 98–353, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.