BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 566
85R6722 JSC-D	By: Perry
	State Affairs
	2/22/2017
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The 84th Legislature authorized a significant rewrite of Texas Family Code (TFC) Section 107, which created a maze of options for custody and adoption evaluations. While it appears current law authorized smaller Domestic Relations Offices (TFC 203) to conduct evaluations using contract professionals, TFC 107.154(2)(b)(2) only identifies a person employed by the Domestic Relations Office is authorized to perform an evaluation of a court referral. The need for clarity arose after implementation of the current law, this amendment adds "or under contract with" providing consistency with other parts of TFC 107.

As proposed, S.B. 566 amends current law relating to the qualifications for a person conducting an adoption evaluation.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 107.154(b), Family Code, to include being employed by or under contract with, rather than employed by, a domestic relations office, provided that the person conducts only certain evaluations among the requirements for a person to be qualified to conduct an adoption evaluation under this subchapter.

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2017.