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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to service of citation and appointment of an attorney ad |
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litem for an indigent parent in certain suits affecting the |
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parent-child relationship. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 107.013, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (c-1) and (e) to read as follows: |
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(c-1) In a suit described by Subsection (a) or (c), any |
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citation served on a parent of the child must include information |
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regarding: |
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(1) the appointment of an attorney ad litem to |
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represent an indigent parent as provided by this section; and |
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(2) the procedure for the parent to assert a claim of |
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indigence. |
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(e) Not later than the seventh day before the date a court |
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holds a hearing under Section 262.201, the court shall: |
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(1) evaluate any claim of indigence by a parent who |
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responds in opposition to a suit described by Subsection (a) or (c); |
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and |
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(2) appoint an attorney ad litem to represent the |
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parent if the court determines that the parent is indigent. |
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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 filed before that date 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, 2011. |