HBA-LCA H.B. 2586 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2586
By: Woolley
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
3/28/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law requires an attorney ad litem representing a child to conduct
interviews with people having significant knowledge of the child's history
and condition, and with the child if the child is more than four years old.
H.B. 2586 requires that the attorney ad litem also interview a child's
caregivers, such as a foster family or substitute family, as another source
for background on the child. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 107.014(b), Family Code, to require an attorney
ad litem appointed to represent a child to interview the child's
caregivers.  Makes conforming changes.  

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.
                       Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.