1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the time in which a court may conduct a hearing or
 1-3     render a final order in a suit to terminate the parent-child
 1-4     relationship.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1. Section 161.201, Family Code, is repealed.
 1-7           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and
 1-8     applies only to a suit to terminate the parent-child relationship
 1-9     filed on or after that date.  A suit to terminate the parent-child
1-10     relationship filed before the effective date of this Act is
1-11     governed by the law in effect on the date the suit was filed, and
1-12     the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 997 was passed by the House on March
         15, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 997 was passed by the Senate on May
         3, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0, 1 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  __________________________
                              Date
                    __________________________
                            Governor