This website will be unavailable from Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, June 3, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.

                                                                                

78R3950 KLA-D

By:  Dunnam                                                       H.B. No. 786



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the contents and appeal of certain orders in a suit 
affecting the parent-child relationship.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 161.206, Family Code, is amended by 
adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:
	(d)  An order terminating the parent-child relationship must 
contain in boldfaced type, capital letters, or underlined, a 
statement notifying the person whose parental rights are terminated 
of the person's right to appeal the order and the date by which the 
person must file a notice of appeal.
	(e)  For purposes of an appeal under Section 109.002,  an 
order terminating the parent-child relationship is a final order 
with respect to a parent whose parental rights are terminated, 
regardless of whether the court has finally disposed of all other 
parties and issues in the suit.
	SECTION 2.  Section 161.206(d), Family Code, as added by 
this Act, applies only to an order terminating the parent-child 
relationship that is rendered on or after the effective date of this 
Act.  An order terminating the parent-child relationship that is 
rendered before the effective date of this Act is governed by the 
law in effect on the date the order was rendered, and the former law 
is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 3.  Section 161.206(e), Family Code, as added by 
this Act, applies only to an appeal in a suit affecting the 
parent-child relationship pending in an appellate court or 
commenced on or after the effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.