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.