85R1624 MK-D
 
  By: Wu H.B. No. 699
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the ability of foster parents to intervene in certain
  suits affecting the parent-child relationship.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 102.004(b), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  An original suit requesting possessory conservatorship
  may not be filed by a grandparent or other person.  However, the
  court may grant a grandparent or other person deemed by the court to
  have had substantial past contact with the child or a foster parent
  described by Section 102.003(a)(12) leave to intervene in a pending
  suit filed by a person authorized to do so under this chapter 
  [subchapter] if there is satisfactory proof to the court that
  appointment of a parent as a sole managing conservator or both
  parents as joint managing conservators would significantly impair
  the child's physical health or emotional development.
         SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  an original suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed on
  or after the effective date of this Act. An original suit affecting
  the parent-child relationship filed before the effective date of
  this Act is subject to the law in effect at the time the suit was
  filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.