By Goodman                                            H.B. No. 2439
         76R2150 CMR-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the modification of an order that designates a sole
 1-3     managing conservator for a child.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 156.104(a), Family Code, is amended to
 1-6     read as follows:
 1-7           (a)  The court may modify an order that designates a sole
 1-8     managing conservator if a parent of the child requests appointment
 1-9     as a joint managing conservator and the court finds that:
1-10                 (1)  the circumstances of the child or the sole
1-11     managing conservator have materially and substantially changed
1-12     since the rendition of the order;  and
1-13                 (2)  [retention of a sole managing conservatorship
1-14     would be detrimental to the welfare of the child; and]
1-15                 [(3)]  the appointment of the parent as a joint
1-16     managing conservator would be a positive improvement for and in the
1-17     best interest of the child.
1-18           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
1-19     applies to a suit for modification of an order providing for
1-20     conservatorship of a child pending on that date or filed on or
1-21     after that date.
1-22           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-23     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-24     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-1     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-2     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.