BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 449
80R2572 JMM-D By: Uresti
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Divorce proceedings place additional stress and emotional hardship on every family member, particularly the children. The emotional effects of a divorce can have lasting effects on the children of divorced parents, resulting in behavioral, academic, and developmental problems. Many times subsequent marriages that create "blended families" fail because newly married spouses have difficulty determining and coordinating disciplinary and other child-rearing matters. Other states, such as Florida, have implemented parent education and family stabilization courses for this reason.
As proposed, S.B. 449 assists families by requiring that all parties in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship attend parenting classes.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 105.009(a), Family Code, as follows:
(a) Requires, rather than authorizes, the court in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship to order the parties to the suit to attend a parent education and family stabilization course. Authorizes the court to order the parties to a suit to attend a parent education and family stabilization course in an action to modify an order in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship, if the court deems it is in the best interest of the child. Deletes existing text relating to an action to modify an order in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship providing for possession of or access to a child.
SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2007.