86R2148 JSC-D
 
  By: White H.B. No. 3309
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the conservatorship and possession of, and support for,
  a child in certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 102, Family Code, is amended by adding
  Section 102.015 to read as follows:
         Sec. 102.015.  PROVISION OF PARENTING PLAN HANDBOOK. On the
  filing of a petition involving the conservatorship or possession of
  or access to a child, the court shall provide to each party to the
  proceeding the parenting plan handbook developed under Section
  153.008.
         SECTION 2.  Sections 153.007(a) and (b), Family Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  To promote the amicable settlement of disputes between
  the parties to a suit, the parties may enter into a written agreed
  parenting plan containing provisions for conservatorship and
  possession of the child and for modification of the parenting plan,
  including model provisions prescribed in the parenting plan
  handbook developed under Section 153.008, variations from those
  model provisions, or variations from the standard possession order.
         (b)  If the court finds that the agreed parenting plan is in
  the child's best interest, the court shall render an order in
  accordance with the parenting plan. In determining whether the
  agreed parenting plan is in the child's best interest, the court
  shall consider all relevant factors, including:
               (1)  the child's needs for frequent, continuing, and
  meaningful contact with both parents and whether both parents agree
  to facilitate that contact;
               (2)  the interaction and interrelationship of the child
  with the child's parents, siblings, and any other member of the
  child's household who may significantly affect the child's best
  interests;
               (3)  the child's adjustment to the child's home,
  school, and community; and
               (4)  the mental and physical health of the child and all
  individuals involved in the parenting plan, including an
  examination of any history of family violence, sexual assault or
  abuse, child neglect or abuse, or other harmful behavior.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter A, Chapter 153, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Section 153.008 to read as follows:
         Sec. 153.008.  PARENTING PLAN HANDBOOK. (a)  The attorney
  general shall develop a parenting plan handbook to assist parties
  to a suit in arriving at an agreement for conservatorship and
  possession of a child.
         (b)  The handbook must include:
               (1)  guidelines for creating and implementing a
  parenting plan, including:
                     (A)  the requirements for a joint managing
  conservatorship parenting plan under Section 153.133; and
                     (B)  alternative dispute resolution options; and
               (2)  various models of potential parenting plans that
  could be used or adapted for use.
         (c)  To the greatest extent possible, the guidelines and
  models developed under Subsection (b) must maximize each
  conservator's period of possession of the child consistent with the
  child's best interest.
         (d)  In developing the guidelines and models required by
  Subsection (b), the attorney general may consult with any relevant
  agency or other entity.
         (e)  The attorney general shall make the handbook available
  online and provide paper copies on request to members of the public.
         SECTION 4.  Section 154.122, Family Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 154.122.  APPLICATION OF GUIDELINES REBUTTABLY
  PRESUMED TO BE IN BEST INTEREST OF CHILD. (a)  Subject to
  Subsection (b), the [The] amount of a periodic child support
  payment established by the child support guidelines in effect in
  this state at the time of the hearing is presumed to be reasonable,
  and an order of support conforming to the guidelines is presumed to
  be in the best interest of the child.
         (b)  Before entering an order of support conforming to the
  guidelines, a [A] court must [may] determine whether [that] the
  application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate
  under the circumstances. In making the determination, a court
  shall consider the financial resources available to each parent of
  the child and each other relevant factor, including the factors
  specified by Section 154.123(b).
         SECTION 5.  The attorney general shall develop and make
  available the parenting plan handbook required by Section 153.008,
  Family Code, as added by this Act, not later than December 1, 2019.
         SECTION 6.  (a) A court is not required to comply with
  Section 102.015, Family Code, as added by this Act, before January
  1, 2020.
         (b)  Sections 153.007 and 154.122, Family Code, as amended by
  this Act, apply only to an original suit affecting the parent-child
  relationship commenced on or after January 1, 2020. A suit filed
  before that date is governed by the law in effect on the date the
  suit was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.