1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the appeal of certain suits affecting the parent-child 1-3 relationship. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 109.001, Family Code, is amended by adding 1-6 Subsection (d) to read as follows: 1-7 (d) The court may not suspend under Subsection (a)(6) the 1-8 operation of an order or judgment terminating the parent-child 1-9 relationship in a suit brought by the state or a political 1-10 subdivision of the state permitted by law to bring the suit. 1-11 SECTION 2. Sections 109.002(a) and (c), Family Code, are 1-12 amended to read as follows: 1-13 (a) An appeal from a final order rendered in a suit, when 1-14 allowed under this section or under other provisions of law, shall 1-15 be as in civil cases generally. An appeal in a suit in which 1-16 termination of the parent-child relationship is in issue shall be 1-17 given precedence over other civil cases and shall be accelerated by 1-18 the appellate courts. The procedures for an accelerated appeal 1-19 under the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure apply to an appeal in 1-20 which the termination of the parent-child relationship is in issue. 1-21 (c) An appeal from a final order, with or without a 1-22 supersedeas bond, does not suspend the order unless suspension is 1-23 ordered by the court rendering the order. The appellate court, on 1-24 a proper showing, may permit the order to be suspended, unless the 2-1 order provides for the termination of the parent-child relationship 2-2 in a suit brought by the state or a political subdivision of the 2-3 state permitted by law to bring the suit. 2-4 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and 2-5 applies only to an appeal in a suit affecting the parent-child 2-6 relationship pending on or commenced on or after the effective date 2-7 of this Act. _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 2381 was passed by the House on April 5, 2001, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 2381 was passed by the Senate on May 15, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0, 1 present, not voting. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________________ Date __________________________ Governor