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By: Delisi, Aycock, Naishtat |
H.B. No. 1972 |
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(Senate Sponsor - Duncan) |
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(In the Senate - Received from the House April 16, 2007; |
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April 17, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on |
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Jurisprudence; May 10, 2007, reported favorably by the following |
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vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 10, 2007, sent to printer.) |
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requirements applicable to an attorney ad litem |
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representing a child in a child abuse proceeding. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 107.004(e), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(e) An attorney ad litem appointed for a child in a |
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proceeding under Chapter 262 or 263 is not required to comply with |
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Subsection (d) before a hearing if the court finds at that hearing |
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that the attorney ad litem has shown good cause why the attorney ad |
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litem's compliance with that subsection is not feasible or in the |
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best interest of the child. Additionally, a court may, on a showing |
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of good cause, authorize an attorney ad litem to comply with |
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Subsection (d) by conferring with the child or other individual, as |
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appropriate, by telephone or video conference. |
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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. |
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* * * * * |