84R3019 EES-D
 
  By: Raymond H.B. No. 386
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to requiring parties in a suit affecting the parent-child
  relationship to disclose to the court knowledge of certain
  registered sex offenders; providing a penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 153, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Section 153.016 to read as follows:
         Sec. 153.016.  DISCLOSURE OF REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS. (a)
  In this section, "extended family" includes a person related to a
  person within the third degree by consanguinity or affinity, as
  determined under Chapter 573, Government Code.
         (b)  Before a court may render an order for the possession of
  or access to a child, each party who will be entitled to possession
  of or access to the child must disclose to the court whether a
  member of the party's extended family is required to register as a
  sex offender under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure.
         (c)  If a registered sex offender in the extended family of a
  party is disclosed under Subsection (b), the court shall include in
  the order for the possession of or access to the child any terms the
  court finds necessary to protect the child's health or welfare.
         (d)  A person who knowingly fails to disclose to the court
  under Subsection (b) that a member of the person's extended family
  is required to register as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Code of
  Criminal Procedure, may be held in contempt of court and may be
  punished by confinement in jail for not more than six months or by a
  fine of not more than $500, or both.
         (e)  It is an affirmative defense to an allegation of
  contempt of court under Subsection (d) that the person:
               (1)  has not had contact with a member of the person's
  extended family who is required to register as a sex offender under
  Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure, for one or more years; or
               (2)  had no knowledge that a member of the person's
  extended family is required to register as a sex offender under
  Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 156, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Section 156.106 to read as follows:
         Sec. 156.106.  MODIFICATION BASED ON SEX OFFENDER
  REGISTRATION INFORMATION OR STATUS.  (a)  In this section,
  "extended family" has the meaning assigned by Section 153.016.
         (b)  It is a material and substantial change of circumstances
  sufficient to justify a modification of a court order or portion of
  a decree that provides for the appointment of a conservator or that
  sets the terms and conditions of conservatorship or for the
  possession of or access to a child if:
               (1)  a person entitled to the possession of or access to
  the child failed before the order was rendered to disclose to the
  court under Section 153.016 that a member of the person's extended
  family is required to register as a sex offender under Chapter 62,
  Code of Criminal Procedure;
               (2)  on the date the court rendered the order, there was
  a registered sex offender in the extended family of a person
  entitled to the possession of or access to a child and there is:
                     (A)  a reasonable probability of interaction
  between the registered sex offender and the child; or
                     (B)  a previous pattern of interaction between the
  registered sex offender and the child; or
               (3)  after the date the order is rendered, a member of a
  party's extended family is required to register as a sex offender
  under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure.
         (c)  A person may not bring a suit for modification under
  Subsection (b)(1) if the person knowingly failed to disclose to the
  court under Section 153.016 that a member of the person's extended
  family is required to register as a sex offender under Chapter 62,
  Code of Criminal Procedure.
         (d)  If the court finds that a person knowingly failed to
  disclose to the court under Section 153.016 that a member of the
  person's extended family is required to register as a sex offender
  under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure, the court may order
  the person to pay the court costs and attorney's fees the other
  party incurred to bring the modification suit.
         SECTION 3.  (a)  In this section, "extended family" includes
  a person related to a person within the third degree by
  consanguinity or affinity, as determined under Chapter 573,
  Government Code.
         (b)  This section applies only to a court order for
  possession of or access to a child rendered before September 1,
  2015.
         (c)  It is a material and substantial change of circumstances
  sufficient to justify a modification of a court order or portion of
  a decree that provides for the appointment of a conservator or that
  sets the terms and conditions of conservatorship or for the
  possession of or access to a child if, on the date the court
  rendered the order, there was a registered sex offender in the
  extended family of a person entitled to the possession of or access
  to a child and there is:
               (1)  a reasonable probability of interaction between
  the registered sex offender and the child; or
               (2)  a previous pattern of interaction between the
  registered sex offender and the child.
         (d)  A suit to modify an order for the possession of or access
  to a child brought under this section must be filed not later than
  February 1, 2016.
         (e)  This section expires September 1, 2016.
         SECTION 4.  (a)  Section 153.016, Family Code, as added by
  this Act, applies to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship
  that is pending in a trial court on the effective date of this Act or
  filed on or after that date.
         (b)  A person may bring a suit to modify an order for the
  possession of or access to a child under Section 156.106(b)(1),
  Family Code, as added by this Act, only if the order was rendered on
  or after the effective date of this Act.
         (c)  A person may bring a suit under Section 156.106(b)(2),
  Family Code, as added by this Act, to modify an order for possession
  of or access to a child regardless of whether the order was rendered
  before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.