87R10561 EAS-D
By: Dutton H.B. No. 3203
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to alternative times of possession under a standard
possession order in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 153.317(a), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) If elected by a conservator, the court shall alter the
standard possession order under Sections 153.312, 153.314, and
153.315 to provide for one or more of the following alternative
beginning and ending possession times for the described periods of
possession, unless the court finds that the election is not in the
best interest of the child:
(1) for weekend periods of possession under Section
153.312(a)(1) during the regular school term:
(A) beginning at the time the child's school is
regularly dismissed;
(B) ending at the time the child's school resumes
after the weekend; or
(C) beginning at the time described by Paragraph
(A) and ending at the time described by Paragraph (B);
(2) for Thursday periods of possession under Section
153.312(a)(2):
(A) beginning at the time the child's school is
regularly dismissed;
(B) ending at the time the child's school resumes
on Friday; or
(C) beginning at the time described by Paragraph
(A) and ending at the time described by Paragraph (B);
(3) for spring vacation periods of possession under
Section 153.312(b)(1), beginning at the time the child's school is
dismissed for those vacations;
(4) for Christmas school vacation periods of
possession under Section 153.314(1), beginning at the time the
child's school is dismissed for the vacation;
(5) for Thanksgiving holiday periods of possession
under Section 153.314(3), beginning at the time the child's school
is dismissed for the holiday;
(6) for Father's Day periods of possession under
Section 153.314(5), ending at 8 a.m. on the Monday after Father's
Day weekend;
(7) for Mother's Day periods of possession under
Section 153.314(6):
(A) beginning at the time the child's school is
regularly dismissed on the Friday preceding Mother's Day;
(B) ending at the time the child's school resumes
after Mother's Day; or
(C) beginning at the time described by Paragraph
(A) and ending at the time described by Paragraph (B); [or]
(8) for weekend periods of possession that are
extended under Section 153.315(b) by a student holiday or teacher
in-service day that falls on a Friday, beginning at the time the
child's school is regularly dismissed on Thursday; or
(9) for weekend periods of possession that are
extended under Section 153.315(a) by a student holiday or teacher
in-service day that falls on a Monday, ending at 8 a.m. Tuesday.
SECTION 2. The enactment of this Act does not constitute a
material and substantial change of circumstances sufficient to
warrant modification of a court order or portion of a decree that
provides for the possession of or access to a child rendered before
the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies to a
suit affecting the parent-child relationship that is pending in a
trial court on the effective date of this Act or that is filed on or
after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.