1-1     By:  Smith (Senate Sponsor - Harris)                  H.B. No. 3345

 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 8, 1997;

 1-3     May 9, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on

 1-4     Jurisprudence; May 17, 1997, reported favorably by the following

 1-5     vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 17, 1997, sent to printer.)

 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-7                                   AN ACT

 1-8     relating to the investigation of a report of child abuse or neglect

 1-9     during the pendency of a suit affecting the parent-child

1-10     relationship.

1-11           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

1-12           SECTION 1.  Section 261.301(a), Family Code, is amended to

1-13     read as follows:

1-14           (a)  The department or designated agency shall make a prompt

1-15     and thorough investigation of a report of child abuse or neglect

1-16     allegedly committed by a person responsible for a child's care,

1-17     custody, or welfare.  The investigation shall be conducted without

1-18     regard to any pending suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

1-19           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-20           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-21     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-22     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-23     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-24     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

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