1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to certain findings concerning an allegation of child

 1-3     abuse or neglect in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

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

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 105.006, Family Code, is amended by

 1-6     adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:

 1-7           (f)  The court may include in a final order in a suit in

 1-8     which a party to the suit makes an allegation of child abuse or

 1-9     neglect a finding on whether the party who made the allegation knew

1-10     that the allegation was false.  This finding shall not constitute

1-11     collateral estoppel for any criminal proceeding.  The court may

1-12     impose on a party found to have made a false allegation of child

1-13     abuse or neglect any civil sanction permitted under law, including

1-14     attorney's fees, costs of experts, and any other costs.

1-15           SECTION 2.  Section 153.013, Family Code, is amended by

1-16     adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

1-17           (c)  If the court makes a finding under Subsection (a), the

1-18     court shall impose a civil penalty not to exceed $500.

1-19           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and

1-20     applies only to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship

1-21     filed on or after that date.  A suit affecting the parent-child

1-22     relationship filed before the effective date of this Act is

1-23     governed by the law in effect on the date the suit was filed, and

1-24     the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

 2-1           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-2     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-3     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-4     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-5     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. 2615 was passed by the House on May

         10, 1997, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in

         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2615 on May 25, 1997, by a non-record

         vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2615 was passed by the Senate, with

         amendments, on May 23, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor