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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an interim study of suits affecting the parent-child |
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relationship in cases involving abuse and other harmful conduct |
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engaged in by a party. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) Pursuant to Section 111.001, Family Code, |
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the standing committees of each house of the legislature having |
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jurisdiction over family law issues shall jointly study and |
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recommend revisions to the provisions of Chapter 153, Family Code, |
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regarding the manner in which the courts of this state, in rendering |
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an order for conservatorship and possession of and access to a |
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child, provide for the safety and best interest of the child. The |
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study must: |
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(1) focus on cases in which a party has engaged in: |
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(A) family violence or dating violence, as those |
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terms are defined by Chapter 71, Family Code; |
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(B) abuse or neglect, as those terms are defined |
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by Section 261.001, Family Code; or |
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(C) conduct constituting offenses under Sections |
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21.02, 22.011, 22.021 and 25.02, Penal Code; and |
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(2) include: |
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(A) the impact of a history of conduct described |
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by Subdivision (1) on a child; and |
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(B) the effects on the courts' considerations of |
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conduct described by Subdivision (1) in the appointment of joint |
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managing conservators, sole managing conservators, and possessory |
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conservators in suits affecting the parent-child relationship. |
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(b) Not later than December 1, 2020, the committees |
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described by Subsection (a) shall jointly submit a report of the |
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study's results to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the |
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speaker of the house of representatives, and members of the |
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legislature. The report must include recommendations for changes |
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to the relevant statutes. |
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SECTION 2. This Act expires September 1, 2021. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |