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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the transfer of certain suits affecting the |
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parent-child relationship. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 155.202(a), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) If the basis of a motion to transfer a proceeding under |
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this subchapter is that the child resides in another county, the |
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court may deny the motion if it is shown that the child has resided |
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in that county for less than six months at the time the proceeding |
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is commenced unless the motion is filed pursuant to Section |
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262.203(a-1). |
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SECTION 2. Section 262.203, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) On the court's own motion, the court in which a suit |
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under this chapter is filed may, in accordance with procedures |
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provided by Chapter 155, transfer the suit to a county where the |
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child has been placed by the department if the court finds that the |
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transfer is necessary for the convenience of the parties and in the |
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best interest of the child. |
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SECTION 3. 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |