Honorable Jim Jackson, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2557 by Brown (relating to a suit for possession of or access to a child by a grandparent.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Family Code relating to a grandparent's rights with regard to possession and access to a grandchild or grandchildren. The bill would amend provisions relating to burdens of proof and procedural steps under certain conditions. The bill would prohibit a court from entering temporary orders at the time of certain expedited hearings, so may result in another hearing to consider temporary orders. The bill may affect child protection litigation initiated by the state when kinship placements or grandparent interventions for the protection of the children are sought. To the extent the bill would result in additional hearings, any increase in judicial workloads or child protection caseloads statewide are not anticipated to be significant, and no significant fiscal implication to the state is anticipated. The bill would take immediate effect if the bill receives two-thirds the vote of all members in both houses. Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2011.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General