1-1     By:  Goodman, Naishtat (Senate Sponsor - Harris)      H.B. No. 3838
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 1999;
 1-3     May 10, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on
 1-4     Jurisprudence; May 14, 1999, reported favorably by the following
 1-5     vote:  Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 14, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to the protection of certain children.
 1-9           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-10           SECTION 1.  Section 155.204, Family Code, is amended by
1-11     amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (f) to read as
1-12     follows:
1-13           (a)  Except as provided by Section 262.203, a [A] motion to
1-14     transfer by a petitioner or movant is timely if it is made at the
1-15     time the initial pleadings are filed.  A motion to transfer by
1-16     another party is timely if it is made on or before the first Monday
1-17     after the 20th day after the date of service of citation or notice
1-18     of the suit or before the commencement of the hearing, whichever is
1-19     sooner.  If a timely motion to transfer has been filed and no
1-20     controverting affidavit is filed within the period allowed for its
1-21     filing, the proceeding shall be transferred promptly without a
1-22     hearing to the proper court.
1-23           (f)  If a transfer order has been rendered by a court
1-24     exercising jurisdiction under Chapter 262, a party may file the
1-25     transfer order with the clerk of the court of continuing, exclusive
1-26     jurisdiction.  On receipt and without a hearing, the clerk of the
1-27     court of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction shall transfer the
1-28     files as provided by this subchapter.
1-29           SECTION 2.  Section 261.101(d), Family Code, is amended to
1-30     read as follows:
1-31           (d)  Unless waived in writing by the person making the
1-32     report, the [The] identity of an individual making a report under
1-33     this chapter is confidential and may be disclosed only:
1-34                 (1)  as provided by [on the order of a court rendered
1-35     under] Section 261.201; or
1-36                 (2)  to a law enforcement officer for the purposes of
1-37     conducting a criminal investigation of the report.
1-38           SECTION 3.  Section 261.201, Family Code, is amended by
1-39     amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection (h) to read
1-40     as follows:
1-41           (b)  A court may order the disclosure of information that is
1-42     confidential under this section if:
1-43                 (1)  a motion has been filed with the court requesting
1-44     the release of the information;
1-45                 (2)  a notice of hearing has been served on the
1-46     investigating agency and all other interested parties; and
1-47                 (3)  after hearing and an in camera review of the
1-48     requested information, the court determines that the disclosure of
1-49     the requested information is:
1-50                       (A)  essential to the administration of justice;
1-51     and
1-52                       (B)  not likely to endanger the life or safety
1-53     of:
1-54                             (i)  a child who is the subject of the
1-55     report of alleged or suspected abuse or neglect;
1-56                             (ii)  a person who makes a report of
1-57     alleged or suspected abuse or neglect; or
1-58                             (iii)  any other person who participates in
1-59     an investigation of reported abuse or neglect or who provides care
1-60     for the child.
1-61           (c)  In addition to Subsection (b), a court, on its own
1-62     motion, may order disclosure of information that is confidential
1-63     under this section if:
1-64                 (1)  the order is rendered at a hearing for which all
 2-1     parties have been given notice;
 2-2                 (2)  the court finds that disclosure of the information
 2-3     is:
 2-4                       (A)  essential to the administration of justice;
 2-5     and
 2-6                       (B)  not likely to endanger the life or safety
 2-7     of:
 2-8                             (i)  a child who is the subject of the
 2-9     report of alleged or suspected abuse or neglect;
2-10                             (ii)  a person who makes a report of
2-11     alleged or suspected abuse or neglect; or
2-12                             (iii)  any other person who participates in
2-13     an investigation of reported abuse or neglect or who provides care
2-14     for the child; and
2-15                 (3)  the order is reduced to writing or made on the
2-16     record in open court.
2-17           (h)  This section does not apply to an investigation of child
2-18     abuse or neglect in a home or facility regulated under Chapter 42,
2-19     Human Resources Code.
2-20           SECTION 4.  Section 261.301(b), Family Code, is amended to
2-21     read as follows:
2-22           (b)  A state agency shall investigate a report that alleges
2-23     abuse or neglect occurred in a facility operated, licensed,
2-24     certified, or registered by that agency as provided by Subchapter
2-25     E.  In conducting an investigation for a facility operated,
2-26     licensed, certified, registered, or listed by the department, the
2-27     department shall perform the investigation as provided by:
2-28                 (1)  Subchapter E; and
2-29                 (2)  the Human Resources Code.
2-30           SECTION 5.  Section 261.303, Family Code, is amended by
2-31     amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
2-32     follows:
2-33           (c)  If a parent or person responsible for the child's care
2-34     does not consent to release of the child's prior medical,
2-35     psychological, or psychiatric records or to a medical,
2-36     psychological, or psychiatric examination of the child that is
2-37     requested by the department or designated agency, the court having
2-38     family law jurisdiction shall, for good cause shown, order the
2-39     records to be released or the examination to be made at the times
2-40     and places designated by the court.
2-41           (d)  A person, including a medical facility, that makes a
2-42     report under Subchapter B shall release to the department or
2-43     designated agency, as part of the required report under Section
2-44     261.103, records that directly relate to the suspected abuse or
2-45     neglect without requiring parental consent or a court order.
2-46           SECTION 6.  Sections 261.305(a)-(c), Family Code, are amended
2-47     to read as follows:
2-48           (a)  An investigation may include an inquiry into the
2-49     possibility that [the child,] a parent[,] or a person responsible
2-50     for the care of a [the] child who is the subject of a report under
2-51     Subchapter B has a history of medical or mental illness.
2-52           (b)  If the parent or person [responsible for the care of the
2-53     child] does not consent to an examination or allow the department
2-54     or designated agency to have access to medical or mental health
2-55     records requested by the department or agency, the court having
2-56     family law jurisdiction, for good cause shown, shall order the
2-57     examination to be made or that the department or agency be
2-58     permitted to have access to the records under terms and conditions
2-59     prescribed by the court.
2-60           (c)  If the court determines that the parent or person
2-61     [responsible for the care of the child] is indigent, the court
2-62     shall appoint an attorney to represent the parent or person
2-63     [responsible for the child] at the hearing [to obtain medical or
2-64     mental health records].  The fees for the appointed attorney shall
2-65     be paid as provided by Chapter 107 [the department or designated
2-66     agency].
2-67           SECTION 7.  Section 261.405, Family Code, as amended by
2-68     Chapters 162 and 1374, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular
2-69     Session, 1997, is reenacted to read as follows:
 3-1           Sec. 261.405.  INVESTIGATIONS IN PRE-ADJUDICATION AND
 3-2     POST-ADJUDICATION SECURE JUVENILE FACILITIES.  A report of alleged
 3-3     abuse or neglect in a public or private juvenile pre-adjudication
 3-4     secure detention facility, including hold-over facilities, or
 3-5     public or private juvenile post-adjudication secure correctional
 3-6     facility, except for a facility operated solely for children
 3-7     committed to the Texas Youth Commission, shall be made to a local
 3-8     law enforcement agency for investigation.  The local law
 3-9     enforcement agency shall immediately notify the Texas Juvenile
3-10     Probation Commission of any report the agency receives.
3-11           SECTION 8.  Section 261.406(b), Family Code, is amended to
3-12     read as follows:
3-13           (b)  The department shall send a written report of the
3-14     department's investigation, as appropriate, to the Texas Education
3-15     Agency, the agency responsible for teacher certification, the local
3-16     school board or the school's [local] governing body, and the school
3-17     principal or director, unless the principal or director is  alleged
3-18     to have committed the abuse or neglect, for appropriate action.  On
3-19     request, the department shall provide a copy of the report of
3-20     investigation to the parent, managing conservator, or legal
3-21     guardian of a child who is the subject of the investigation and to
3-22     the person alleged to have committed the abuse or neglect. The
3-23     report of investigation shall be edited to protect the identity of
3-24     the persons who made the report of abuse or neglect [or provided
3-25     information for the report of abuse or neglect].  Section
3-26     261.201(b) applies to the release of confidential information
3-27     relating to the investigation of a report of abuse or neglect under
3-28     this section and to the identity of the person who made the report
3-29     of abuse or neglect.
3-30           SECTION 9.  The heading of Chapter 262, Family Code, is
3-31     amended to read as follows:
3-32        CHAPTER 262.  [EMERGENCY] PROCEDURES IN SUIT BY GOVERNMENTAL
3-33                ENTITY TO PROTECT HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CHILD
3-34           SECTION 10.  Section 262.001, Family Code, is amended to read
3-35     as follows:
3-36           Sec. 262.001.  AUTHORIZED ACTIONS BY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.
3-37     (a)  A governmental entity with an interest in the child may file a
3-38     suit affecting the parent-child relationship requesting an
3-39     [emergency] order or take possession of a child without a court
3-40     order as provided by this chapter.
3-41           (b)  In determining the reasonable efforts that are required
3-42     to be made with respect to preventing or eliminating the need to
3-43     remove a child from the child's home or to make it possible to
3-44     return a child to the child's home, the child's health and safety
3-45     is the paramount concern.
3-46           SECTION 11.  Section 262.002, Family Code, is amended to read
3-47     as follows:
3-48           Sec. 262.002.  JURISDICTION [FOR EMERGENCY PROCEDURES].  A
3-49     suit brought by a governmental entity requesting an [emergency]
3-50     order under this chapter may be filed in a court with jurisdiction
3-51     to hear the suit in the county in which the child is found.
3-52           SECTION 12.  Section 262.007(c), Family Code, is amended to
3-53     read as follows:
3-54           (c)  If a person entitled to possession of the child is not
3-55     immediately available to take possession of the child, the law
3-56     enforcement officer shall deliver the child to the Department of
3-57     Protective and Regulatory Services.  Until a person entitled to
3-58     possession of the child takes possession of the child, the
3-59     department may, without a court order, retain possession of the
3-60     child not longer than five [14] days after the date the child is
3-61     delivered to the department.  While the department retains
3-62     possession of a child under this subsection, the department may
3-63     place the child in foster home care.  If a parent or other person
3-64     entitled to possession of the child does not take possession of the
3-65     child before the sixth [15th] day after the date the child is
3-66     delivered to the department, the department shall proceed under
3-67     this chapter as if the law enforcement officer took possession of
3-68     the child under Section 262.104.
3-69           SECTION 13.  The heading for Subchapter B, Chapter 262,
 4-1     Family Code, is amended to read as follows:
 4-2          SUBCHAPTER B.  TAKING POSSESSION OF CHILD [IN EMERGENCY]
 4-3           SECTION 14.  Section 262.101, Family Code, is amended to read
 4-4     as follows:
 4-5           Sec. 262.101.  FILING PETITION BEFORE TAKING POSSESSION OF
 4-6     CHILD.  An original suit [A petition or affidavit] filed by a
 4-7     governmental entity that requests [requesting] permission to take
 4-8     possession of a child without prior notice and a hearing must [in
 4-9     an emergency shall] be supported by an affidavit sworn to by a
4-10     person with personal knowledge and stating [shall state] facts
4-11     sufficient to satisfy a person of ordinary prudence and caution
4-12     that:
4-13                 (1)  there is an immediate danger to the physical
4-14     health or safety of the child or the child has been a victim of
4-15     neglect or sexual abuse and that continuation in the home would be
4-16     contrary to the child's welfare; and
4-17                 (2)  there is no time, consistent with the physical
4-18     health or safety of the child, for an adversary hearing or to make
4-19     reasonable efforts to prevent or eliminate the need for the removal
4-20     of the child.
4-21           SECTION 15.  Section 262.102(a), Family Code, is amended to
4-22     read as follows:
4-23           (a)  Before a court may, without prior notice and a hearing,
4-24     issue a temporary restraining order or attachment of a child in a
4-25     suit [requesting an emergency order] brought by a governmental
4-26     entity, the court must find that:
4-27                 (1)  there is an immediate danger to the physical
4-28     health or safety of the child or the child has been a victim of
4-29     neglect or sexual abuse and that continuation in the home would be
4-30     contrary to the child's welfare; and
4-31                 (2)  there is no time, consistent with the physical
4-32     health or safety of the child and the nature of the emergency, to
4-33     hold an adversary hearing or to make reasonable efforts to prevent
4-34     or eliminate the need for removal of the child.
4-35           SECTION 16.  Section 262.106, Family Code, is amended by
4-36     adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
4-37           (d)  For the purpose of determining under Subsection (a) the
4-38     first working day after the date the child is taken into
4-39     possession, the child is considered to have been taken into
4-40     possession by the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
4-41     on the expiration of the five-day period permitted under Section
4-42     262.007(c) or 262.110(b), as appropriate.
4-43           SECTION 17.  Section 262.109(d), Family Code, is amended to
4-44     read as follows:
4-45           (d)  The written notice may be waived by the court at the
4-46     initial hearing:
4-47                 (1)  on a showing that the parents, conservators, or
4-48     other custodians of the child could not be located; or
4-49                 (2)  for other good cause.
4-50           SECTION 18.  Section 262.110, Family Code, is amended to read
4-51     as follows:
4-52           Sec. 262.110.  TAKING POSSESSION OF CHILD IN EMERGENCY WITH
4-53     INTENT TO RETURN HOME.  (a)  An authorized representative of the
4-54     Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, a law enforcement
4-55     officer, or a juvenile probation officer may take temporary
4-56     possession of a child without a court order on discovery of a child
4-57     in a situation of danger to the child's physical health or safety
4-58     when the sole purpose is to deliver the child without unnecessary
4-59     delay to the parent, managing conservator, possessory conservator,
4-60     guardian, caretaker, or custodian who is presently entitled to
4-61     possession of the child.
4-62           (b)  Until a parent or other person entitled to possession of
4-63     the child takes possession of the child, the department may retain
4-64     possession of the child without a court order for not more than
4-65     five days.  On the expiration of the fifth day, if a parent or
4-66     other person entitled to possession does not take possession of the
4-67     child, the department shall take action under this chapter as if
4-68     the department took possession of the child under Section 262.104.
4-69           SECTION 19.  Subchapter B, Chapter 262, Family Code, is
 5-1     amended by adding Section 262.113 to read as follows:
 5-2           Sec. 262.113.  FILING SUIT WITHOUT TAKING POSSESSION OF
 5-3     CHILD.  An original suit filed by a governmental entity that
 5-4     requests to take possession of a child after notice and a hearing
 5-5     must be supported by an affidavit sworn to by a person with
 5-6     personal knowledge and stating facts sufficient to satisfy a person
 5-7     of ordinary prudence and caution that:
 5-8                 (1)  reasonable efforts have been made to prevent or
 5-9     eliminate the need to remove the child from the child's home; and
5-10                 (2)  allowing the child to remain in the home would be
5-11     contrary to the child's welfare.
5-12           SECTION 20.  Section 262.201, Family Code, is amended by
5-13     adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
5-14           (g)  For the purpose of determining under Subsection (a)  the
5-15     14th day after the date the child is taken into possession, a child
5-16     is considered to have been taken into possession by the department
5-17     on the expiration of the five-day period permitted under Section
5-18     262.007(c) or 262.110(b), as appropriate.
5-19           SECTION 21.  Section 262.2015, Family Code, is amended to
5-20     read as follows:
5-21           Sec. 262.2015.  AGGRAVATED CIRCUMSTANCES [ACCELERATED TRIAL
5-22     ON THE MERITS].  (a)  The court may waive the requirement of a
5-23     service plan and the requirement to make reasonable efforts to
5-24     return the child to a parent and may accelerate the trial schedule
5-25     to result in a final order for a child under the care of the
5-26     department at an earlier date than provided by Subchapter D,
5-27     Chapter 263, if the court finds that all reasonable efforts have
5-28     been made to return the child to a parent or that the parent has
5-29     subjected the child to aggravated circumstances.
5-30           (b)  The court may find under Subsection (a) that a parent
5-31     has subjected the child to aggravated circumstances if:
5-32                 (1)  the parent abandoned the child without
5-33     identification or a means for identifying the child [orders at the
5-34     conclusion of the full adversary hearing that the child may not be
5-35     placed in the child's home];
5-36                 (2)  [finds that] the child is a victim of serious
5-37     bodily injury or sexual abuse inflicted by the parent or by another
5-38     person with the parent's consent; [and]
5-39                 (3)  the parent [finds that there is probable cause to
5-40     believe that a party to the suit] has engaged in conduct against
5-41     the child or against another child of the parent that would
5-42     constitute an offense under the following provisions of the Penal
5-43     Code:
5-44                       (A)  Section 19.02 (murder);
5-45                       (B)  Section 19.03 (capital murder);
5-46                       (C)  Section 19.04 (manslaughter);
5-47                       (D)  Section 21.11 (indecency with a child);
5-48                       (E) [(B)]  Section 22.011 (sexual assault);
5-49                       (F) [(C)]  Section 22.02 (aggravated assault);
5-50                       (G) [(D)]  Section 22.021 (aggravated sexual
5-51     assault);
5-52                       (H) [(E)]  Section 22.04 (injury to a child,
5-53     elderly individual, or disabled individual);
5-54                       (I) [(F)]  Section 22.041 (abandoning or
5-55     endangering child);
5-56                       (J) [(G)]  Section 25.02 (prohibited sexual
5-57     conduct);
5-58                       (K) [(H)]  Section 43.25 (sexual performance by a
5-59     child); or
5-60                       (L) [(I)]  Section 43.26 (possession or promotion
5-61     of child pornography);
5-62                 (4)  the parent voluntarily left the child alone or in
5-63     the possession of another person not the parent of the child for at
5-64     least six months without expressing an intent to return and without
5-65     providing adequate support for the child; or
5-66                 (5)  the parent's parental rights with regard to
5-67     another child have been involuntarily terminated based on a finding
5-68     that the parent's conduct violated Section 161.001(1)(D) or (E) or
5-69     a substantially equivalent provision of another state's law.
 6-1           SECTION 22.  Section 262.203, Family Code, is amended to read
 6-2     as follows:
 6-3           Sec. 262.203.  TRANSFER OF SUIT.  (a)  On the motion of a
 6-4     party or the court's own motion, if applicable, the court that
 6-5     rendered the temporary order shall [transfer the suit] in
 6-6     accordance with procedures provided by Chapter 155:
 6-7                 (1)  transfer the suit to the court of continuing,
 6-8     exclusive jurisdiction, if any; [or]
 6-9                 (2)  if grounds exist for mandatory transfer from the
6-10     court of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under Section 155.201,
6-11     order transfer of the suit from that court; or
6-12                 (3)  if grounds exist for transfer based on improper
6-13     venue, order transfer of the suit [if there is no court of
6-14     continuing jurisdiction,] to the court having venue of the suit
6-15     [affecting the parent-child relationship] under Chapter 103.
6-16           (b)  Notwithstanding Section 155.204, a motion to transfer
6-17     relating to [under this section is timely if made at any time after
6-18     the date] a suit [was] filed under this chapter may be filed
6-19     separately from the petition and is timely if filed while the case
6-20     is pending.
6-21           (c)  Notwithstanding Sections 6.407 and 103.002, a court
6-22     exercising jurisdiction under this chapter is not required to
6-23     transfer the suit to a  court in which a parent has filed a suit
6-24     for dissolution of marriage before a final order for the protection
6-25     of the child has been rendered under Subchapter E,  Chapter 263.
6-26           SECTION 23.  Subchapter C, Chapter 262, Family Code, is
6-27     amended by adding Section 262.205 to read as follows:
6-28           Sec. 262.205.  HEARING WHEN CHILD NOT IN POSSESSION OF
6-29     GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.  (a)  In a suit requesting possession of a
6-30     child after notice and hearing, the court may render a temporary
6-31     restraining order as provided by Section 105.001.  The suit shall
6-32     be promptly set for hearing.
6-33           (b)  After the hearing, the court may grant the request to
6-34     remove the child from the parent, managing conservator, possessory
6-35     conservator, guardian, caretaker, or custodian entitled to
6-36     possession of the child if the court finds sufficient evidence to
6-37     satisfy a person of ordinary prudence and caution that:
6-38                 (1)  reasonable efforts have been made to prevent or
6-39     eliminate the need to remove the child from the child's home; and
6-40                 (2)  allowing the child to remain in the home would be
6-41     contrary to the child's welfare.
6-42           (c)  If the court orders removal of the child from the
6-43     child's home, the court shall:
6-44                 (1)  issue an appropriate temporary order under Chapter
6-45     105; and
6-46                 (2)  inform each parent in open court that parental and
6-47     custodial rights and duties may be subject to restriction or
6-48     termination unless the parent is willing and able to provide a safe
6-49     environment for the child.
6-50           (d)  If citation by publication is required for a parent or
6-51     alleged or probable father in an action under this chapter because
6-52     the location of the person is unknown, the court may render a
6-53     temporary order without regard to whether notice of the citation
6-54     has been published.
6-55           (e)  If the court finds that the child requires protection
6-56     from family violence by a member of the child's family or
6-57     household, the court shall render a protective order for the child
6-58     under Title 4.
6-59           SECTION 24.  Section 263.101, Family Code, is amended to read
6-60     as follows:
6-61           Sec. 263.101.  DEPARTMENT TO FILE SERVICE PLAN.  Not later
6-62     than the 45th day after the date the court renders a temporary
6-63     order appointing the department as temporary managing conservator
6-64     of a child [of the conclusion of a full adversary hearing] under
6-65     Chapter 262, the department or other agency appointed as the
6-66     managing conservator of a child shall file a service plan.
6-67           SECTION 25.  Section 263.105(a), Family Code, is amended to
6-68     read as follows:
6-69           (a)  The service plan currently in effect shall be filed with
 7-1     the court [along with the next required status report].
 7-2           SECTION 26.  Section 263.201, Family Code, is amended to read
 7-3     as follows:
 7-4           Sec. 263.201.  STATUS HEARING; TIME.  (a)  Not later than the
 7-5     60th day after the date the court renders a temporary order
 7-6     appointing the department as temporary managing conservator of a
 7-7     child, the court shall hold a status hearing to review the child's
 7-8     status and the service [permanency] plan developed for the child.
 7-9           (b)  A status hearing is not required if the court holds an
7-10     initial permanency hearing under Section 262.2015 before the date a
7-11     status hearing is required by this section.
7-12           SECTION 27.  Section 263.202, Family Code, is amended by
7-13     adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
7-14           (d)  If a service plan with respect to a parent has not been
7-15     filed with the court, the court shall consider whether to waive the
7-16     service plan under Section 262.2015.
7-17           SECTION 28.  Section 264.201, Family Code, is amended by
7-18     adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
7-19           (e)  The department may not provide and a court may not order
7-20     the department to provide supervision for visitation in a child
7-21     custody matter unless the department is a petitioner or intervener
7-22     in the underlying suit.
7-23           SECTION 29.  Section 154.053, Civil Practice and Remedies
7-24     Code, is amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
7-25           (d)  Each participant, including the impartial third party,
7-26     to an alternative dispute resolution procedure is subject to the
7-27     requirements of Subchapter B, Chapter 261, Family Code, and
7-28     Subchapter C, Chapter 48, Human Resources Code.
7-29           SECTION 30.  Section 154.073, Civil Practice and Remedies
7-30     Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection
7-31     (e) to read as follows:
7-32           (a)  Except as provided by Subsections (c), [and] (d), and
7-33     (e), a communication relating to the subject matter of any civil or
7-34     criminal dispute made by a participant in an alternative dispute
7-35     resolution procedure, whether before or after the institution of
7-36     formal judicial proceedings, is confidential, is not subject to
7-37     disclosure, and may not be used as evidence against the participant
7-38     in any judicial or administrative proceeding.
7-39           (e)  This section does not affect the duty to report abuse or
7-40     neglect under Subchapter B, Chapter 261, Family Code, and abuse,
7-41     exploitation, or neglect under Subchapter C, Chapter 48, Human
7-42     Resources Code.
7-43           SECTION 31.  Sections 263.003 and 263.004, Family Code, are
7-44     repealed.
7-45           SECTION 32.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
7-46           (b)  The change in law made by this Act to Chapter 262,
7-47     Family Code, applies only to a suit affecting the parent-child
7-48     relationship filed requesting an order to take possession of a
7-49     child or to a child taken into possession without a court order on
7-50     or after that date.  A suit filed before the effective date of this
7-51     Act or a child taken into possession before the effective date of
7-52     this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the suit was
7-53     filed or the child was taken into possession, as appropriate, and
7-54     the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
7-55           SECTION 33.  The importance of this legislation and the
7-56     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
7-57     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
7-58     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
7-59     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
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