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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the persons entitled to intervene in certain suits |
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affecting the 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 102.005, Family Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 102.005. STANDING TO REQUEST TERMINATION AND ADOPTION. |
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(a) An original suit requesting only an adoption or for termination |
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of the parent-child relationship joined with a petition for |
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adoption may be filed by: |
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(1) a stepparent of the child; |
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(2) an adult who, as the result of a placement for |
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adoption, has had actual possession and control of the child at any |
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time during the 30-day period preceding the filing of the petition; |
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(3) an adult who has had actual possession and control |
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of the child for not less than two months during the three-month |
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period preceding the filing of the petition; |
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(4) an adult who has adopted, or is the foster parent |
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of and has petitioned to adopt, a sibling of the child; or |
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(5) another adult whom the court determines to have |
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had substantial past contact with the child sufficient to warrant |
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standing to do so. |
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(b) The court shall grant a person who has standing to file |
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an original suit with respect to a child under Subsection (a)(2) |
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leave to intervene in a suit filed by an authorized agency if the |
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person's motion to intervene includes a petition for adoption of |
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the child. |
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SECTION 2. Section 102.005, Family Code, as amended by this |
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Act, applies to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship that |
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is pending in a trial court on the effective date of this Act or |
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filed on or after that date. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |