81R28003 JMM-F
By: Martinez H.B. No. 1170
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1170:
By: Rose C.S.H.B. No. 1170
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the qualifications to conduct a social study in certain
suits affecting the parent-child relationship.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 107.0511, Family Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (g), (h), and (i) to read as follows:
(g) The minimum qualifications prescribed by this section
do not apply to an individual who, before September 1, 2007:
(1) lived in a county that has a population of 500,000
or more and is adjacent to two or more counties each of which has a
population of 50,000 or more;
(2) received a four-year degree from an accredited
institution of higher education;
(3) worked as a child protective services investigator
for the Department of Family and Protective Services for at least
four years;
(4) worked as a community supervision and corrections
department officer; and
(5) conducted at least 100 social studies in the
previous five years.
(h) A person described by Subsection (g) who performs a
social study must:
(1) complete at least eight hours of family violence
dynamics training provided by a family violence service provider;
and
(2) participate annually in at least 15 hours of
continuing education for child custody evaluators that meets the
Model Standards of Practice for Child Custody Evaluation adopted
by the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts as those
standards existed May 1, 2009, or a later version of those standards
if adopted by rule of the executive commissioner of the Health and
Human Services Commission.
(i) Subsections (g) and (h) and this subsection expire
September 1, 2017.
SECTION 2. 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, 2009.