BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 947

By: Dutton

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In Texas, a standard possession order gives the possessory conservator visitation every other weekend, every other holiday, and in the summer. However, each year millions of possessory conservators are denied visitation with their children.

Current law provides that if the possessory conservator gives the managing conservator written notice by April 1 of each year of their desire to have an extended period of summer possession, they are entitled to 30 days of visitation during the summer.

H.B. 947 clarifies that the requirement that a managing conservator give written notice to a possessory conservator to establish a weekend period of possession of a child during the child's extended period of summer possession with the possessory conservator applies only after the managing conservator receives notice of the possession.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 947 amends the Family Code to clarify that the requirement that a managing conservator give written notice to a possessory conservator to establish a weekend period of possession of a child during the child's extended period of summer possession with the possessory conservator applies only after the managing conservator receives notice of the possession.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.