By McReynolds                                   H.B. No. 3012

      75R7566 SKB-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to standard possession orders in suits affecting the

 1-3     parent-child relationship.

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

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 153.312(a), Family Code, is amended to

 1-6     read as follows:

 1-7           (a)  If the possessory conservator resides 100 miles or less

 1-8     from the primary residence of the child, the possessory conservator

 1-9     shall have the right to possession of the child as follows:

1-10                 (1)  on weekends beginning at 6 p.m. on the first,

1-11     third, and fifth Friday of each month and ending at 6 p.m. on the

1-12     following Sunday or, at the possessory conservator's election made

1-13     before or at the time of the rendition of the original or

1-14     modification order, and as specified in the original or

1-15     modification order, beginning at the time the child's school is

1-16     regularly dismissed and ending at 6 p.m. on the following Sunday;

1-17     and

1-18                 (2)  on Wednesdays of each week during the regular

1-19     school term beginning at 6 p.m. and ending at 8 p.m., or, at the

1-20     possessory conservator's election made before or at the time of the

1-21     rendition of the original or modification order, and as specified

1-22     in the original or modification order, beginning at the time the

1-23     child's school is regularly dismissed and ending at the time the

1-24     child's school resumes [at 8 p.m].

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

 2-2     applies only to a possession order rendered on or after that date.

 2-3           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-4     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-5     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-6     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-7     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.