HBA-PDH H.B. 988 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 988 By: Talton Juvenile Justice and Family Issues 3/8/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the best interest of a child ordinarily requires a court to designate a primary physical residence for the child if a joint management conservatorship is ordered. There are no guidelines for determining the best interest of a child. H.B. 988 requires the court to consider specific factors, including which parent will be more likely to allow the child frequent and continuing contact with the other parent, to determine the best interest of a child prior to designating the child's primary physical residence. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 153.136, Family Code, as follows: Sec. 153.136. COURT DESIGNATION OF PRIMARY PHYSICAL RESIDENCE. Requires the court to consider the best interest of a child, including the evaluation of specific factors, prior to designating a primary physical residence for the child. SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3.Emergency clause.