HBA-CBW, LJP H.B. 871 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 871
By: Dutton
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
3/5/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, a parent or other person has the duty to control and
reasonably discipline a child. However, when parents are faced with
exercising reasonable discipline of their minor children, they frequently
are confused as to whether they may be subjected to charges of child abuse
at a later date because of the use of corporal punishment. House Bill 871
authorizes a parent to use reasonable punishment for the discipline of the
parent's 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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 871 amends the Family Code to provide that a parent has the
right to use corporal punishment for the reasonable discipline of the
parent's child. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.