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By: Uresti |
S.B. No. 449 |
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(In the Senate - Filed February 5, 2007; February 21, 2007, |
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read first time and referred to Committee on Jurisprudence; |
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April 16, 2007, reported adversely, with favorable Committee |
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Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; April 16, 2007, |
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sent to printer.) |
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COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 449 |
By: Hinojosa |
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the requirement in certain suits affecting the |
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parent-child relationship that the parties attend parenting |
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classes. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 105.009, Family Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), in [In] a suit |
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affecting the parent-child relationship, including an action to |
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modify an order in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship |
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providing for possession of or access to a child, the court may |
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order the parties to the suit to attend a parent education and |
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family stabilization course if the court determines that the order |
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is in the best interest of the child. This section does not apply to |
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a suit filed by a governmental entity. |
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(a-1) In a suit affecting the parent-child relationship |
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that is included in or accompanied by a suit for dissolution of a |
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marriage, the court shall order the parties to the suit to attend a |
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parent education and family stabilization course unless the court |
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finds that a party does not have access to a course. The failure of |
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a party to attend a course ordered under this subsection is not |
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grounds for the court to delay rendering a final order in the suit |
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for dissolution of a marriage. This subsection does not apply to a |
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suit for dissolution of a marriage in which a default judgment is |
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rendered. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed on or after |
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the effective date of this Act. A suit affecting the parent-child |
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relationship filed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the suit was filed, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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