1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to court-ordered family counseling for conflicts regarding

 1-3     issues of conservatorship or possession of or access to a child.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 153.010, Family Code, is amended to read

 1-6     as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 153.010.  ORDER FOR FAMILY COUNSELING.  (a)  If the

 1-8     court finds at the time of a hearing that the parties have a

 1-9     history of conflict in resolving an issue of conservatorship or

1-10     possession of or access to the child, the court may order a party

1-11     to:

1-12                 (1)  participate in counseling with a mental health

1-13     professional who:

1-14                       (A)  has a background in family therapy;

1-15                       (B)  has a mental health license that requires as

1-16     a minimum a master's degree; and

1-17                       (C)  has training in domestic violence if the

1-18     court determines that the training is relevant to the type of

1-19     counseling needed [person appointed by the court]; and

1-20                 (2)  pay the cost of counseling.

1-21           (b)  If a person possessing the requirements of Subsection

1-22     (a)(1) is not available in the county in which the court presides,

1-23     the court may appoint a person the court believes is qualified to

1-24     conduct the counseling ordered under Subsection (a).

 2-1           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

 2-2           SECTION 3.  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. 2215 was passed by the House on April

         25, 1997, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in

         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2215 on May 21, 1997, by a non-record

         vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2215 was passed by the Senate, with

         amendments, on May 19, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor