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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to court-ordered access to a child by the child's sibling. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 102.0045(b), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) Access to a child by a sibling of the child is governed |
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by the standards established by Section 153.551 [Subchapter J,
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Chapter 153]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 153.551, Family Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) A [The] sibling described by Subsection (a) [of a child] |
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may request access to the child in a suit filed for the sole purpose |
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of requesting the relief, without regard to whether the appointment |
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of a managing conservator is an issue in the suit. |
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(c) The court shall order reasonable access to the child by |
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the child's sibling described by Subsection (a) if the court finds |
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that access is in the best interest of the child. |
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SECTION 3. Section 156.002, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) The sibling of a child who is separated from the child |
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because of the actions of the Department of Family and Protective |
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Services may file a suit for modification requesting access to the |
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child in the court with continuing, exclusive jurisdiction. |
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SECTION 4. Section 153.552, Family Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a suit affecting the parent-child relationship pending in a trial |
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court on or filed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |