By Dutton                                              H.B. No. 871
         77R2098 KSD-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a parent's right to discipline the parent's child.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 151.003, Family Code, is amended by
 1-5     adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
 1-6           (e)  A parent may use corporal punishment for the reasonable
 1-7     discipline of the parent's child.
 1-8           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 1-9     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-10     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-11     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-12     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.