82R1174 KSD-F
	By: Raymond	H.B. No. 149

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the appointment of a parenting coordinator or parenting
	facilitator in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 153.609(d), Family Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(d)  If due to hardship the parties are unable to pay the fees
	of a parenting coordinator, and a domestic relations office or a
	comparable county agency [public employee] is not available under
	Subsection (c), the court, if feasible, may appoint a person who
	meets the minimum qualifications prescribed by Section 153.610,
	including an employee of the court, to act as a parenting
	coordinator on a volunteer basis and without compensation.
	SECTION 2.  Section 153.6091, Family Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 153.6091.  COMPENSATION OF PARENTING FACILITATOR.
	Section 153.609 applies to [the compensation of] a parenting
	facilitator in the same manner as provided for [the compensation
	of] a parenting coordinator, except that a person appointed in
	accordance with Section 153.609(d) to act as a parenting
	facilitator must meet the minimum qualifications prescribed by
	Section 153.6101.
	SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies to a
	suit affecting the parent-child relationship that is pending in a
	trial court on the effective date of this Act or that is filed on or
	after the effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2011.