BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 65

By: Krause

Juvenile Justice & Family Issues

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties maintain that a parent's divorce can have a detrimental effect on a child and the parties contend that the state should encourage parents to thoroughly consider the possible ramifications of a divorce. H.B. 65 seeks to provide this encouragement by revising the waiting period for a divorce on the grounds of insupportability.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 65 amends the Family Code to extend the end date of the waiting period following the filing of a divorce suit during which a court may not grant a divorce on the grounds of insupportability from the 60th day after the date the suit was filed to the 180th day after the date the suit was filed if the household of one of the spouses is the primary residence for a child under the age of 18, a child 18 years of age who is attending high school, or an adult disabled child. The bill specifies that such an extended waiting period is not required in certain suits involving family violence and that a decree rendered in violation of the waiting period is not subject to collateral attack.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.