By Harris                                              S.B. No. 147
         76R2390 JMM-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the designation of the primary physical residence of a
 1-3     child in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 153.136, Family Code, is amended to read
 1-6     as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 153.136.  COURT DESIGNATION OF PRIMARY PHYSICAL
 1-8     RESIDENCE.  (a)  If joint managing conservatorship is ordered, the
 1-9     best interest of the child ordinarily requires the court to
1-10     designate a primary physical residence for the child.
1-11           (b)  In designating the primary physical residence of the
1-12     child, the court shall consider as one factor favoring the
1-13     designation of a parent's residence as the primary physical
1-14     residence whether the parent is more likely to allow the child
1-15     frequent and continuing contact with the other parent and to
1-16     facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-child
1-17     relationship between the child and the other parent.
1-18           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
1-19     applies only to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship
1-20     filed on or after that date.  A suit affecting the parent-child
1-21     relationship filed before the effective date of this Act is
1-22     governed by the law in effect on the date the suit was filed, and
1-23     the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
1-24           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-1     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-2     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-3     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-4     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.