By:  Averitt                                                      S.B. No. 1665


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to providing aid to a law enforcement officer for the 
temporary custody of a child.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.                                                                     

Chapter 262.001, Family Code is amended to read as follows:                   
	262.001.  Authorized Actions By Governmental Entity                            
	(a)  A governmental entity with an interest in the child may 
file a suit affecting the parent-child relationship requesting an 
order or take possession of a child without a court order as 
provided by this chapter.
	(b)  In determining the reasonable efforts that are required 
to be made with respect to preventing or eliminating the need to 
remove a child from the child's home or to make it possible to 
return a child to the child's home, the child's health and safety is 
the paramount concern.
	(c)  Civilian employees or volunteers of law enforcement 
agencies may aid or assist police officers with the temporary care 
of children until further arrangements regarding the child's 
custody can be made.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.