By: Uresti S.B. No. 449

(In the Senate - Filed February 5, 2007; February 21, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Jurisprudence; April 16, 2007, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; April 16, 2007, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 449 By: Hinojosa

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the requirement in certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship that the parties attend parenting classes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 105.009, Family Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), in [In] a suit affecting the parent-child relationship, including an action to modify an order in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship providing for possession of or access to a child, the court may order the parties to the suit to attend a parent education and family stabilization course if the court determines that the order is in the best interest of the child. This section does not apply to a suit filed by a governmental entity.

(a-1) In a suit affecting the parent-child relationship that is included in or accompanied by a suit for dissolution of a marriage, the court shall order the parties to the suit to attend a parent education and family stabilization course unless the court finds that a party does not have access to a course. The failure of a party to attend a course ordered under this subsection is not grounds for the court to delay rendering a final order in the suit for dissolution of a marriage. This subsection does not apply to a suit for dissolution of a marriage in which a default judgment is rendered.

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed on or after the effective date of this Act. A suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the suit was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

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