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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to procedures for presenting certain evidence at placement |
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review hearings in suits affecting the parent-child relationship |
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involving the Department of Family and Protective Services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 263.0021, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows: |
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(e) Notice of a hearing under this chapter provided to an |
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individual listed under Subsection (b)(2) must state that the |
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individual may, but is not required to, present evidence and be |
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heard at the hearing. |
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(f) In a hearing under this chapter, the court shall call an |
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individual listed under Subsection (b)(2) and the individual, at |
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the individual's discretion, may appear at the hearing and present |
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evidence and be heard regardless of whether either party calls the |
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individual to testify. If the individual testifies at the hearing, |
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the individual may be cross-examined by either party. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply to a |
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suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. A suit affecting the parent-child |
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relationship filed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the suit was filed, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |