BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1573 By: Henderson Jurisprudence 4-12-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Rights, privileges, powers, and duties provisions of the Family Code are not clear regarding educational decisions and information sharing relating to a child. Changes made by the 73rd Legislature to Sections 14.02 and 12.04 do not address which parent has a statutory right to enroll a child in school. Although a parent retains a "right to receive" information about a child, there is no "duty" for the other parent to provide the information. In this situation, it may be difficult for a non-custodial parent to have access to issues regarding a child's health, education, and welfare. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1573 clarifies provisions regarding the powers and duties of parents appointed as conservators of a child in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 14.02(a), Family Code, to require a court to specify which parent has the power to enroll the child in school and other rights, privileges, duties, and powers of a parent that are to be exercised exclusively by one parent if both parents are appointed as conservators of the child, either by agreement between the parties or by court order. Provides that each parent has a duty to inform the other parent of significant information concerning the health, education, and welfare of the child, rather than providing that each parent retains the right to receive information. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1995. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.