SRC-JBJ H.B. 3403 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3403
By: King, Tracy (Zaffirini)
Jurisprudence
5/3/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Child custody and visitation rights can be contentious issues between
divorced parents. According to the National Legal Research Group, it is
estimated that the access of more than six million children to a
noncustodial parent was interfered with by the custodial parent in 1993.
Visitation centers and visitation exchange centers can help facilitate the
terms of court ordered child custody, assure a child's access to both
parents and their extended families, and provide a neutral ground where
parents can exchange custody of children without subjecting the child to
hostilities between the parents.  H.B. 3403 authorizes a county to
establish visitation centers and visitation exchange facilities to better
facilitate appropriate parental access to children who are the subject of
court orders resulting from divorce.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 153A, Family Code, by adding Section 153.014, as
follows: 

Sec. 153.014.  VISITATION CENTERS AND VISITATION EXCHANGE FACILITIES.
Authorizes a county to establish a visitation center or a visitation
exchange facility for the purpose of facilitating the terms of a court
order providing for the possession of or access to a child. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.