By: Ramos, Wu (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) H.B. No. 3009

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 2021; May 17, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs; May 21, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 21, 2021, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to child custody evaluations.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 107.103, Family Code, is amended by adding Subsections (e), (f), and (g) to read as follows:

(e) In appointing a child custody evaluator in a suit in which a party subject to the child custody evaluation does not speak English as a primary language, the court shall ensure that the child custody evaluator:

(1) is able to effectively communicate in the primary language of the party; or

(2) will be assisted by a licensed or certified interpreter.

(f) A licensed or certified interpreter assisting a child custody evaluator under Subsection (e)(2) may accompany the evaluator in person or assist through use of audio or video conferencing technology.

(g) The court may require the parties to pay any costs associated with obtaining assistance for a child custody evaluator from a licensed or certified interpreter.

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to a child custody evaluation conducted on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of whether the suit affecting the parent-child relationship was filed before, on, or after that date.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.

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