By Harris                                             S.B. No. 1086
         77R8243 MCK-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the minimum qualifications of certain persons
 1-3     conducting a social study in a suit affecting the parent-child
 1-4     relationship.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1. Section 107.052(a), Family Code, is amended to
 1-7     read as follows:
 1-8           (a)  The court may appoint an investigator to conduct the
 1-9     social study required by this section who has the qualifications
1-10     established by the rules of the Department of Protective and
1-11     Regulatory Services providing minimum qualifications for persons
1-12     who may conduct social studies.  If the Department of Protective
1-13     and Regulatory Services or another governmental entity is
1-14     appointed, the person who conducts the investigation and makes the
1-15     report must also have those qualifications. A person may not
1-16     conduct a social study under this section unless the person has a
1-17     bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and at
1-18     least 10 years of professionally supervised full-time experience
1-19     with the department.
1-20           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and
1-21     applies to the appointment of an investigator to conduct a social
1-22     study under Section 107.052(a), Family Code, on or after that date.
1-23     An appointment made before the effective date of this Act is
1-24     governed by the law in effect on the date the appointment was made,
 2-1     and  the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.