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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the appointment of a guardian ad litem and attorney for |
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a minor in an application for a court order authorizing the minor to |
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consent to an abortion. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 33.003(e), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(e) The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for the |
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minor. If the minor has not retained an attorney, the court shall |
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appoint an attorney to represent the minor. The [If the guardian ad
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litem is an attorney admitted to the practice of law in this state,
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the] court may not appoint the guardian ad litem to serve as the |
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minor's attorney. The court may not appoint the minor's attorney to |
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be the guardian ad litem for the minor. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an application for a court order authorizing a minor to consent |
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to an abortion filed under Section 33.003, Family Code, as amended |
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by this Act, on or after the effective date of this Act. An |
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application filed before the effective date of this Act is governed |
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by the law in effect at the time the application was filed, and that |
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law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |