By:  Farrar (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini)                          H.B. No. 270
	(In the Senate - Received from the House May 11, 2005; 
May 13, 2005, read first time and referred to Committee on 
Jurisprudence; May 19, 2005, reported favorably by the following 
vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 19, 2005, sent to printer.)


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to court-ordered access to a child by the child's sibling.         
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 102, Family Code, is amended by adding 
Section 102.0045 to read as follows:
	Sec. 102.0045.  STANDING FOR SIBLING.  (a)  The sibling of a 
child may file an original suit requesting access to the child as 
provided by Section 153.551 if the sibling is at least 18 years of 
age.
	(b)  Access to a child by a sibling of the child is governed 
by the standards established by Subchapter J, Chapter 153.
	SECTION 2.  Chapter 153, Family Code, is amended by adding 
Subchapter J to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER J.  RIGHTS OF SIBLINGS
	Sec. 153.551.  SUIT FOR ACCESS.  (a)  The sibling of a child 
who is separated from the child because of an action taken by the 
Department of Family and Protective Services may request access to 
the child by filing:
		(1)  an original suit; or                                              
		(2)  a suit for modification as provided by Chapter 
156.             
	(b)  The sibling of a child may request access to the child in 
a suit filed for the sole purpose of requesting the relief, without 
regard to whether the appointment of a managing conservator is an 
issue in the suit.
	Sec. 153.552.  ACCESS TO SIBLING.  The court shall order 
reasonable access to a child by the child's sibling if the court 
finds that access is in the best interest of the child.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.                           



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