By: Cook H.B. No. 853
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to orders for possession of and access to a child in a suit
  affecting the parent-child relationship.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 153.253, Family Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 153.253.  STANDARD POSSESSION ORDER INAPPROPRIATE OR
  UNWORKABLE. The court shall render an order that grants periods of
  possession of the child as similar as possible to those provided by
  the standard possession order if the work schedule or other special
  circumstances of the managing conservator, the possessory
  conservator, or the child, or the year-round school schedule of the
  child, make the standard possession order unworkable or
  inappropriate.
         SECTION 2.  Section 153.254, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (b) and (c) to read
  as follows:
         (a)  The court shall render an order appropriate under the
  circumstances for possession of a child less than three years of
  age. In rendering the order, the court shall consider evidence of
  all relevant factors, including:
               (1)  the preexisting parent-child relationship,
  including whether there has been minimal or inconsistent contact
  with the child and the child's siblings, if applicable [caregiving
  provided to the child before and during the current suit];
               (2)  [the effect on the child that may result from
  separation from either party;
               [(3)]  the personal availability of the parties as
  caregivers [and the willingness of the parties to personally care
  for the child];
               (3) [(4)]  the present and immediate physical,
  medical, behavioral, or [and] developmental needs of the child;
               (4)  any [(5)  the] physical, medical, behavioral
  [emotional], economic, or [and] social conditions of the parties;
               (5) [(6)]  the impact and influence of each individual
  residing in a residence with a party to the suit or having
  considerable interaction with the child [individuals, other than
  the parties, who will be present] during a party's periods of
  possession;
               (6)  the present and proposed environments in which
  possession and access has occurred or is to occur;
               (7)  the presence or absence of siblings during periods
  of possession;
               (8)  the child's need to develop healthy attachments to
  each party, if possible [both parents];
               (9)  the child's need for continuity of routine;
               (10)  the location and proximity of the residences of
  the parties;
               (11)  the need for a graduated [temporary] possession
  schedule when there has been [that incrementally shifts to the
  schedule provided in the prospective order under Subsection (d)
  based on:
                     [(A)  the age of the child; or
                     [(B)]  minimal or inconsistent contact with the
  child [by a party];
               (12)  the ability of the parties to share in the
  responsibilities, rights, and duties of caring for the child
  [parenting]; and
               (13)  any other issue consistent with [evidence of] the
  best interest of the child, taking into consideration the
  circumstances of the parties.
         (b)  The court shall render an order for periods of
  possession of a child less than three years of age based on the
  agreement of the parties, unless the court determines the agreement
  is not in the best interest of the child.
         (c)  Section 153.258 applies to an order rendered under this
  section.
         SECTION 3.  The heading to Section 153.258, Family Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 153.258.  REQUEST FOR FINDINGS WHEN ORDER VARIES FROM
  STANDARD POSSESSION ORDER.
         SECTION 4.  Section 153.258(a), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  In all cases in which possession of a child by a parent
  is contested and the possession of the child varies from the
  standard possession order, including a possession order for a child
  under three years of age, on request by a party, the court shall
  state in writing the specific reasons for the variance from the
  standard possession order.
         SECTION 5.  The changes in law made by this Act to Section
  153.254, Family Code, apply only to a suit affecting the
  parent-child relationship that is filed on or after the effective
  date of this Act. A suit filed before the effective date of this Act
  is governed by the law in effect on the date the suit is filed, and
  the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.