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)