By: Guillen, Raymond (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) H.B. No. 848

(In the Senate - Received from the House March 31, 2011; April 13, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human Services; May 6, 2011, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 6, 2011, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 848 By: Zaffirini

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an agreement authorizing certain persons to make decisions regarding a child during an investigation of child abuse or neglect.

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

SECTION 1. Section 34.001, Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 34.001. APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies only to:

(1) an authorization agreement between a parent of a child and a person who is the child's:

(A) [(1)] grandparent;

(B) [(2)] adult sibling; or

(C) [(3)] adult aunt or uncle; and

(2) an authorization agreement between a parent of a child and the person with whom the child is placed under a parental child safety placement agreement.

SECTION 2. Chapter 34, Family Code, is amended by adding Section 34.0021 to read as follows:

Sec. 34.0021. AUTHORIZATION AGREEMENT BY PARENT IN CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES CASE. A parent may enter into an authorization agreement with a relative or other person with whom a child is placed under a parental child safety placement agreement approved by the Department of Family and Protective Services to allow the person to perform the acts described by Section 34.002(a) with regard to the child:

(1) during an investigation of abuse or neglect; or

(2) while the department is providing services to the parent.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.

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