CJ H.B. 2215 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS JUVENILE JUSTICE & FAMILY ISSUES H.B. 2215 BY: STAPLES 4-11-97 Committee Report (Amended) BACKGROUND Section 153.010, Family Code, allows the court to order family counseling in cases of conservatorship, possession, and access when the parties are found to have a history of conflict in resolving such issues. Current law does not specify the criteria of the counselors who will be appointed or when this order can be initiated. PURPOSE HB 2215 would eliminate confusion concerning when a court can order family counseling during the court process and defines a criteria required to perform family counseling in the aforementioned cases. This will help ensure that the most qualified counselors are being appointed by the court. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION-BY-SECTION SECTION 1. Amends Section 153.010, Family Code, as follows: Sec. 153.010. Authorizes the court, if it finds at the time of the hearing that the parties have a history of conflict in resolving matters of conservatorship, possession or access to the child, to order a party to: (1) participate in court appointed counseling with licensed mental health professional who has a background in marriage and family therapy and has trained in domestic violence issues. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. CJ H.B. 2215 75(R) EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS The amendment changes the definition of the person appointed by the court to provide counseling to fit a certain criteria rather than a particular licensure.