CJ H.B. 2488 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2488 4-3-97 Committee Report (Unamended) Introduced BACKGROUND When conservatorship is at issue, the Family Code mandates the court, on the request of a party, to interview a child 12 years old or older, and permits the court to interview a child less than 12. Additionally, on a party's or the court's motion, the Code mandates the court to make a record of the interview when a child is 12 years old or older. PURPOSE H.B. 2488, in effect, lowers the age from 12 to 10 in order to make the Title 5: The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship of the Family Code consistent with Title 3: Juvenile Justice Code. 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 153.009, Family Code, as follows: (b) Strikes the numbers : "12" and adds the numbers "10". (d) Strikes the number : "12" and adds the numbers "10". SECTION 2. Effective date. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. CJ H.B. 2488 75(R)