Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.

      Line and page numbers may not match official copy.

      By Smith                                        H.B. No. 3346

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to child's choice of managing conservator in a suit

 1-3     affecting the parent-child relationship.

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

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 153.008, Family Code, is amended to read

 1-6     as follows:

 1-7           If the child is [12] 10 years of age or older, the child may,

 1-8     by writing filed with the court, choose the managing conservator,

 1-9     subject to the approval of the court.

1-10           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-11           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-12     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-13     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-14     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-15     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.