85R1624 MK-D
By: Wu H.B. No. 699
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the ability of foster parents to intervene in certain
suits affecting the parent-child relationship.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 102.004(b), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) An original suit requesting possessory conservatorship
may not be filed by a grandparent or other person. However, the
court may grant a grandparent or other person deemed by the court to
have had substantial past contact with the child or a foster parent
described by Section 102.003(a)(12) leave to intervene in a pending
suit filed by a person authorized to do so under this chapter
[subchapter] if there is satisfactory proof to the court that
appointment of a parent as a sole managing conservator or both
parents as joint managing conservators would significantly impair
the child's physical health or emotional development.
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
an original suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed on
or after the effective date of this Act. An original suit affecting
the parent-child relationship filed before the effective date of
this Act is subject to the law in effect at the time the suit was
filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.