By Pitts                                                H.B. No. 43
         76R278 MCK-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the placement of a child taken into custody by a
 1-3     governmental entity.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 262, Family Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 262.1085 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 262.1085.  PLACEMENT OF A CHILD WITH A SUBSTITUTE CARE
 1-8     PROVIDER.  (a)  When a child is taken into possession under this
 1-9     chapter, the  governmental entity taking possession of the child
1-10     shall place the child with a grandparent or great-grandparent of
1-11     the child if the grandparent or great-grandparent qualifies as a
1-12     substitute care provider under the rules of the governmental
1-13     entity.
1-14           (b)  If a grandparent or great-grandparent does not qualify
1-15     as a substitute care provider, the governmental entity may place
1-16     the child with another relative or substitute care provider.
1-17           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
1-18     applies only to a suit filed by a governmental entity on or after
1-19     that date.
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.