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