1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the failure of certain persons to attend a court 1-3 hearing involving a child; providing a criminal penalty. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 54.022, Family Code, is amended by 1-6 amending Subsections (e) and (g) and adding Subsection (h) to read 1-7 as follows: 1-8 (e) A justice or municipal court shall endorse on the 1-9 summons issued to a parent, managing conservator, or a guardian an 1-10 order to appear personally at the hearing with the child. The 1-11 summons must include a warning that the failure of the parent, 1-12 managing conservator, or guardian to appear may be punishable as a 1-13 Class C misdemeanor. 1-14 (g) A person commits an offense if the person is a parent, 1-15 managing conservator, or guardian who fails to attend a hearing 1-16 under this section after receiving an order under Subsection (e). 1-17 An offense under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor. 1-18 (h) Any other order under this section is enforceable by the 1-19 justice or municipal court by contempt. 1-20 SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only 1-21 to a court order issued on or after the effective date of this Act. 1-22 An order issued before the effective date of this Act is covered by 1-23 the law in effect when the order was issued, and the former law is 1-24 continued in effect for that purpose. 2-1 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 2-2 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-3 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-4 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-5 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-6 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 115 was passed by the House on March 13, 1997, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 115 was passed by the Senate on May 23, 1997, by a viva-voce vote. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor