By: Bonnen of Galveston, Miles, Sheets H.B. No. 1781
(Senate Sponsor - Taylor of Galveston)
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 20, 2015;
May 4, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on State
Affairs; May 21, 2015, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 21, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE VOTE
YeaNayAbsentPNV
HuffmanX
EllisX
BirdwellX
CreightonX
EstesX
FraserX
NelsonX
SchwertnerX
ZaffiriniX
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to access by a sibling of a child separated from the
sibling due to an action by the Department of Family and Protective
Services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 102.0045, Family Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) The sibling of a child who is separated from the
sibling as the result of an action by the Department of Family and
Protective Services may file an original suit as provided by
Section 153.551 requesting access to the child, regardless of the
age of the sibling. A court shall expedite a suit filed under this
subsection.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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