HBA-SEP, BSM H.B. 2158 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2158
By: Thompson
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
3/18/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law requires that an appeal in a parental rights termination suit
be given precedence over other civil cases, but does not require the court
to accelerate the appeal.  In an accelerated appeal, briefs and the notice
of appeal must be filed within 20 days instead of 30 days of the last
action and the clerk and the reporter must file the record of the appeal
within 10 days after the notice rather than having up to 120 days to file.
If requested, the court is authorized to hear the appeal on original papers
forwarded by the trial court or on sworn and uncontroverted copies of the
papers.  Delay in legal procedures related to the disposition of cases
involving the termination of parental rights is not in the best interest of
the children of this state.  House Bill 2158 requires appellate courts to
accelerate appeals cases in suits in which termination of the parent-child
relationship is in issue. 

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 2158 amends the Family Code to require appellate courts to
accelerate appeal cases in a suit in which termination of the parent-child
relationship is in issue.  The bill provides that the Texas Rules of
Appellate Procedure apply in such cases.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.