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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to standing for certain individuals to file a suit |
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affecting the parent-child relationship. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 102.006, Family Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsections [Subsection] (b) and |
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(c), if the parent-child relationship between the child and every |
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living parent of the child has been terminated, an original suit may |
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not be filed by: |
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(1) a former parent whose parent-child relationship |
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with the child has been terminated by court order; |
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(2) the father of the child; or |
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(3) a family member or relative by blood, adoption, or |
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marriage of either a former parent whose parent-child relationship |
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has been terminated or of the father of the child. |
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(c) The limitations on filing suit imposed by this section |
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do not apply to an adult sibling of the child, a grandparent of the |
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child, an aunt who is a sister of a parent of the child, or an uncle |
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who is a brother of a parent of the child if: |
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(1) the adult sibling, grandparent, aunt, or uncle |
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files an original suit requesting managing conservatorship of the |
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child not later than the 30th day after the date the parent-child |
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relationship between the child and the parent is terminated; and |
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(2) the department did not notify the adult sibling, |
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grandparent, aunt, or uncle of the department's suit requesting the |
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termination of the parent-child relationship. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |