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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the ability of foster parents to intervene in certain |
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suits affecting the 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 102.004(b), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) An original suit requesting possessory conservatorship |
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may not be filed by a grandparent or other person. However, the |
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court may grant a grandparent or other person deemed by the court to |
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have had substantial past contact with the child or a foster parent |
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described by Section 102.003(a)(12) leave to intervene in a pending |
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suit filed by a person authorized to do so under this chapter |
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[subchapter] if there is satisfactory proof to the court that |
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appointment of a parent as a sole managing conservator or both |
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parents as joint managing conservators would significantly impair |
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the child's physical health or emotional development. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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an original suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed on |
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or after the effective date of this Act. An original suit affecting |
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the parent-child relationship filed before the effective date of |
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this Act is subject to the law in effect at the time the suit was |
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filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |