| 1 | 1 | | 85R4230 MM-F |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Krause H.B. No. 1132 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | relating to procedures for presenting certain evidence at placement |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | review hearings in suits affecting the parent-child relationship |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | involving the Department of Family and Protective Services. |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Section 263.0021, Family Code, is amended by |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows: |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | (e) Notice of a hearing under this chapter provided to an |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | individual listed under Subsection (b)(2) must state that the |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | individual may, but is not required to, present evidence and be |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | heard at the hearing. |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | (f) In a hearing under this chapter, the court shall call an |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | individual listed under Subsection (b)(2) and the individual, at |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | the individual's discretion, may appear at the hearing and present |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | evidence and be heard regardless of whether either party calls the |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | individual to testify. If the individual testifies at the hearing, |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | the individual may be cross-examined by either party. |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply to a |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed on or after the |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | effective date of this Act. A suit affecting the parent-child |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | relationship filed before the effective date of this Act is |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | governed by the law in effect on the date the suit was filed, and the |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
|---|