By Smith                                              H.B. No. 3345

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the investigation of a report of child abuse or neglect

 1-3     during the pendency of a suit affecting the parent-child

 1-4     relationship.

 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-6           SECTION 1.  Section 261.301(a), Family Code, is amended to

 1-7     read as follows:

 1-8           (a)  The department or designated agency shall make a prompt

 1-9     and thorough investigation of a report of child abuse or neglect

1-10     allegedly committed by a person responsible for a child's care,

1-11     custody, or welfare.  The investigation shall be conducted without

1-12     regard to any pending suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

1-13           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-14           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-15     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-16     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-17     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-18     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.