S.B. No. 539
AN ACT
relating to the qualifications for an impartial third party in
certain civil disputes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 154.052(b), Civil Practice and Remedies
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(b) To qualify for an appointment as an impartial third
party under this subchapter in a dispute relating to the
parent-child relationship, a person must complete the training
required by Subsection (a) and an additional 24 hours of training in
the fields of family dynamics, child development, and family law,
including a minimum of four hours of family violence dynamics
training developed in consultation with a statewide family violence
advocacy organization.
SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 154.052, Civil Practice
and Remedies Code, as amended by this Act, a person who satisfies
the qualifications to be an impartial third party in effect
immediately before the effective date of this Act is not required to
comply with the requirements imposed by that section, as amended by
this Act, until January 1, 2018, to be qualified to serve as an
impartial third party under Subchapter C, Chapter 154, Civil
Practice and Remedies Code, and the former law is continued in
effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 539 passed the Senate on
March 22, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 1.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 539 passed the House on
May 19, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 2, two
present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor