HBA-ATS, TYH C.S.S.B. 30 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.S.B. 30
By: Shapiro
State Affairs
5/19/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)


 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, a physician is not required to notify the parent or guardian of
a minor of an intent to perform an abortion on that minor.  C.S.S.B. 30
requires a physician intending to perform an abortion on a minor to notify
the parent or guardian of the minor and provides for a judicial bypass of
the notification in certain circumstances. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Supreme Court of Texas in SECTION 1
(Sections 33.003 and 33.004, Family Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subtitle A, Title 2, Family Code, by adding Chapter 33,
as follows: 

CHAPTER 33.  NOTICE OF ABORTION

 Sec. 33.001. DEFINITIONS.  Defines "abortion," "guardian," "physician,"
and "unemancipated minor." 
 
Sec. 33.002.  PARENTAL NOTICE.  (a) Prohibits a physician from performing
an abortion on an unemancipated pregnant minor unless: 

(1) the physician gives at least 48 hours actual notice, in person or by
telephone, of the physician's intent to perform the abortion to a parent of
the minor, if the minor has no managing conservator or guardian, or a
court-appointed managing conservator or guardian; 

(2) the judge of a court having probate jurisdiction, the judge of a county
court at law, the judge of a district court, including a family district
court, or a court of appellate jurisdiction issues an order authorizing the
minor to consent to the abortion as provided by Section 33.003 or 33.004;   

(3) a probate court, county court at law, district court, including a
family district court, or court of appeals, by its inaction, constructively
authorizes the minor to consent to the abortion as provided by Section
33.003 or 33.004; or 

(4) the physician performing the abortion concludes on the basis of good
faith clinical judgment, that a condition exists that complicates the
pregnant minor's medical condition and necessitates the immediate abortion
of her pregnancy to avert the minor's death or to avoid a serious risk of
substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function, and
certifies in writing to the Texas Department of Health and in the patient's
medical record the indications supporting the physician's judgment that the
condition exists. 
 
(b) Authorizes a physician to perform an abortion when a parent, guardian,
or conservator cannot be notified after reasonable effort, if the physician
gives at least 48 hours  constructive notice, by certified mail, restricted
delivery, sent to the last known address of the parent, guardian, or
conservator.  Establishes that the time period under this subsection begins
when the notice is mailed.  Authorizes the abortion, if the person required
to be notified is not notified within the 48-hour period, to proceed even
if the notice by mail is not received by the person to whom it is sent.   

(c) Authorizes the waiver of the requirement that 48 hours actual notice be
provided, by an affidavit of a parent of the minor or a court-appointed
managing conservator or guardian. 

(d) Authorizes a physician to execute, for inclusion in the minor's medical
record, an affidavit stating that, according to the best information and
belief of the physician, the required notice or constructive notice has
been provided.  Provides that execution of this affidavit creates a
conclusive presumption that the requirements of this section have been
satisfied. 

(e) Requires the Texas Department of Health to prepare a certification form
required by Subsection (a)(4). 

(f) Provides that a certification required by Section 33.002(a)(4) is
confidential and privileged and is not subject to disclosure under Chapter
552 (Public Information), Government Code, or to discovery, subpoena, or
other legal process.  Prohibits personal or identifying information about
the  minor from being included in a certification. Provides that the
physician must keep the minor's medical records in compliance with the
rules adopted by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners (board) under
Section 5.085, Article 4495b, V.T.C.S. (Medical Practice Act). 

(g) Provides that a physician who intentionally performs an abortion on a
pregnant unemancipated minor in violation of this section commits a Class A
misdemeanor. Defines "intentionally." 

(h) Provides that it is a defense to prosecution under proposed Section
33.002 that the minor falsely represented her age or identity to the
physician to be at least 18 years of age by displaying an apparently valid
governmental record of identification such that a reasonable person under
similar circumstances would have relied on the representation. Provides
that the affirmative defense does not apply if the physician is shown to
have had independent knowledge of the minor's actual age or identity or
failed to use due diligence in determining the minor's age or identity.
Defines "defense." 

(i) Authorizes the defendant in a trial in which the conduct charged
involves a conclusion made by the physician under Section 33.002(a)(4) to
seek a hearing before the board on whether the physician's conduct was
necessary to avert the death of the minor or to avoid a serious risk of
substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function.
Provides that the findings of the board are admissible on that issue in the
trial of the defendant.  Requires the court, on motion of the defendant, to
delay the beginning of the trial for not more than 30 days to permit the
hearing before the board to occur. 
 
Sec. 33.003.  JUDICIAL APPROVAL.  (a) Authorizes a pregnant minor who
wishes to have an abortion without notification to one of her parents,
managing conservator, or her guardian, to file an application for a court
order authorizing the performance of an abortion without such notification.

(b) Authorizes the application to be filed in any county court at law,
court having probate jurisdiction, or a district court, including a family
district court, in this state. 

(c) Provides that the application must be made under oath and include
certain enumerated statements. 

(d) Requires the clerk of the court to deliver a courtesy copy of the
application to the  judge who is to hear the application. 

(e) Requires the court to appoint a guardian ad litem for the minor and to
appoint an attorney for the minor if one has not been retained.  Authorizes
the court to appoint the guardian ad litem to serve as the attorney if the
guardian ad litem is licensed to practice law in the state. 

(f) Enumerates the persons authorized to be appointed by the court to serve
as guardian ad litem. 

(g) Requires the court to fix a time for a hearing on an application under
Subsection (a) and keep a record of all testimony and other oral
proceedings in the action.  Requires the court to enter judgment on the
application immediately after the hearing is concluded. 

(h) Requires the court to rule on an application and issue written findings
of fact and conclusions of law no later than 5 p.m. on the second business
day after the date the application was filed with the court.  Requires the
court, on request by the minor, to grant an extension of the period
specified by this subsection.  Requires the court, if a request for an
extension is made, to rule on an application and to issue written findings
of fact and conclusions of law by 5 p.m. on the second business day after
the minor states she is ready to proceed to hearing.  Provides that an
application is considered to be granted and the physician may perform the
abortion as if the court had issued an order authorizing the minor to
consent to the performance of the abortion without notification under
Section 33.002, if the court fails to rule on the application within the
allotted time.  Requires proceedings under this section to be given
precedence over other pending matters to the extent necessary to ensure
that the court reaches a prompt decision. 

(i) Requires the court to determine by a preponderance of the evidence
whether the minor is mature and sufficiently well informed to make the
decision to have an abortion without notification to either of her parents
or a managing conservator or guardian, whether the notification would not
be in the best interest of the minor, or whether notification may lead to
physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of the minor.  Requires the court, if
it finds that the minor is mature and sufficiently well informed, that
notification would not be in the minor's best interest, or that
notification may lead to physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of the minor,
to enter an order authorizing the minor to consent to the abortion without
notification to either parents or a managing conservator or guardian and to
execute the requisite forms. 

(j) Prohibits the court from authorizing the minor to consent to an
abortion without the notification under Section 33.002(a)(1), if the court
finds that the minor does not meet the requirements outlined in Subsection
(i). 

(k) Prohibits the court from notifying a parent, managing conservator, or
guardian that the minor is pregnant or that the minor wants to have an
abortion.  Requires the court proceedings to be conducted in a manner that
protects the anonymity of the minor. Provides that the application and all
other documents pertaining to the proceedings are confidential and
privileged and are not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government
Code, or to discovery, subpoena, or other legal process.  Authorizes the
minor to file the application using a pseudonym or only her initials. 

(l) Provides that an order of the court issued under this section is
confidential and privileged and is not subject to disclosure under Chapter
552, Government Code, or to discovery, subpoena, or other legal process.
Prohibits the order from being released to any person but the pregnant
minor, the pregnant minor's guardian ad litem, the pregnant minor's
attorney, another person designated to receive the order by the minor, or
governmental agency or attorney in a criminal or administrative action
seeking to assert or protect the interest of the minor.  Authorizes the
supreme court to adopt rules to permit confidential docketing of an
application. 

 (m) Requires the clerk of the supreme court to prescribe the application
form to be used by the minor filing an application.  

(n) Provides that a filing fee is not required, and prohibits court costs
from being assessed against a minor filing an application. 
 
Sec. 33.004. APPEAL.  (a) Authorizes a minor whose application under
Section 33.003 is denied to appeal to the appellate court having
jurisdiction over civil matters in the county in which the application was
filed.  Requires the clerk of the court that denied the application, upon
receipt of a notice of appeal, to deliver a copy of the notice of appeal
and record on appeal to the clerk of the court of appeals who is required
to place the appeal on the court docket.    
 
(b) Requires the appellate court to rule on the appeal under this section
no later than 5 p.m. on the second business day after the date the notice
of appeal is filed with the court that denied the application.  Requires
the court, on request by the minor, to grant an extension of the period
specified by this subsection.  Requires the court, if a request for an
extension is made, to rule on the appeal by 5 p.m. on the second business
day after the minor states she is ready to proceed.  Provides that the
appeal is considered to be granted and the physician may perform the
abortion as if the court had issued an order authorizing the minor to
consent to the performance of the abortion without notification under
Section 33.002, if the court fails to rule on the appeal within the period
specified by this subsection.  Requires that proceedings under this section
be given precedence over other pending matters to the extent necessary to
ensure that the court reaches a decision promptly. 

(c) Provides that a ruling of the court of appeals issued under this
section is confidential and privileged and is not subject to disclosure
under Chapter 552, Government Code, or to discovery, subpoena, or other
legal process.  Prohibits the ruling from being released to any person but
the pregnant minor, the pregnant minor's guardian ad litem, the pregnant
minor's attorney, another person designated to receive the ruling by the
minor, or  governmental agency or attorney in a criminal or administrative
action seeking to assert or protect the interest of the minor.  Authorizes
the supreme court to adopt rules to permit confidential docketing of an
appeal. 

(d) Requires the clerk of the supreme court to prescribe the notice of
appeal form used by the minor appealing a judgment under this section. 

(e) Provides that a filing fee is not required, and prohibits charging
court costs against a minor filing an appeal under this section. 

(f) Requires an expedited confidential appeal to be made available to any
pregnant minor to whom a court of appeals denies an order authorizing the
minor to consent to the performance of an abortion without notification to
either of her parents or a managing conservator or guardian. 

Sec. 33.005.  AFFIDAVIT OF PHYSICIAN.  (a) Authorizes a physician to
execute, for inclusion in the minor's medical record, an affidavit stating
that, after reasonable inquiry, it is the physician's belief that the minor
has made an application or filed a notice of appeal, that the deadline for
court action has passed, and that the physician has been notified that the
court has not denied the application or appeal. 

(b) Authorizes a physician who in good faith has executed this affidavit to
conclusively rely on it and to perform the abortion. 

Sec. 33.006.  GUARDIAN AD LITEM IMMUNITY.  Provides that a guardian ad
litem appointed under this chapter and acting in the course and scope of
the appointment is not liable for damages arising from an act or omission
of the guardian ad litem committed in good faith.  Provides that the
immunity granted by this section does not apply if the conduct  of the
guardian ad litem is committed in a manner described by Sections
107.003(b)(1)-(4) (relating to recklessly or negligently offered advice). 
 
Sec. 33.007.  COSTS PAID BY STATE.  Authorizes a court acting under Section
33.003 or 33.004 to issue an order requiring the state to pay the cost of
any attorney ad litem and any guardian ad litem appointed for the minor,
the costs of court associated with the application or appeal,
notwithstanding Sections 33.003(n) and 33.004(e), and any court reporter's
fees incurred.  Provides that an order issued under this section must be
directed to the comptroller, who is required to pay the amount ordered from
funds appropriated to the Texas Department of Health. 

Sec. 33.008.  PHYSICIAN'S DUTY TO REPORT ABUSE OF A MINOR; INVESTIGATION
AND ASSISTANCE.  (a) Requires a physician who has reason to believe that a
minor has been or may be physically or sexually abused by a person
responsible for the minor's care, custody, or welfare, as that term is
defined by Section 261.001 (Definitions), to immediately report the
suspected abuse to the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
(DPRS) and to refer the minor to the department for services or
intervention that may be in the minor's best interest. 

(b) Requires DPRS to investigate suspected abuse reported under this
section and, if appropriate, to assist the minor in making an application
with a court.   
 
Sec. 33.009.  OTHER REPORTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR.  Requires a court
or the guardian ad litem or attorney ad litem for the minor to report
conduct reasonably believed to violate Section 22.011 (Sexual Assault),
22.021 (Aggravated Sexual Assault), or 25.02 (Prohibited Sexual Conduct),
Penal Code, based on information obtained during a confidential court
proceeding held under this chapter to: 

 _any local or state law enforcement agency;

 _the DPRS, if the alleged conduct involves a person responsible for the
care, custody, or welfare of the child; 

 _ the state agency that operates, licenses, certifies, or registers the
facility in which the alleged conduct occurred, if the alleged conduct
occurred in such a facility; or  

 _an appropriate agency designated by the court.

Sec. 33.010.  CONFIDENTIALITY.  Provides that information obtained by DPRS
or another entity under proposed Section 33.008 or 33.009 is confidential
except to the extent necessary to prove a violation of Section 22.011,
22.021, or 25.02, Penal Code, notwithstanding any other law. 

SECTION 2.  Requires the supreme court to promptly issue rules necessary in
order that proceedings under Sections 33.003 and 33.004, Family Code, as
added by this Act, may be conducted in a manner that ensures
confidentiality and has sufficient precedence to ensure prompt disposition. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Makes application of Chapter 33, Family Code, as added by this
Act, prospective, as of January 1, 2000.   

SECTION 5.  Requires the Texas Board of Health to adopt the form to be used
under Section 33.002(a)(4), Family Code, as added by this Act, before
December 15, 1999. 

SECTION 6.  Requires the clerk of the supreme court to adopt the
application and notice of appeal forms to be used under Sections 33.003 and
33.004, Family Code, as added by this Act, before December 15, 1999. 
 
SECTION 7.  Emergency clause.



COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.S.B. 30 differs from the original bill in SECTION 1 by redefining the
definition of "abortion" found in proposed Section 33.001, Family Code.
Under the substitute, "abortion" has the meaning assigned by Section
4.011(a), Article 4495b, V.T.C.S. (Medical Practice Act), and, under the
substitute, applies only to an unemancipated minor known by the attending
physician to be pregnant, and is prohibited from being construed to limit a
minor's access to contraceptives.  In the original, "abortion" meant the
use of any means to terminate the pregnancy of a female known by the
attending physician to be pregnant, with the intention that the termination
of the pregnancy by those means will with reasonable likelihood cause the
death of the fetus. 

In proposed Section 33.001, the substitute differs from the original by
removing the proposed definitions of "fetus" and "medical emergency."  The
substitute also differs by adding the definition of "unemancipated minor"
(a minor who is unmarried and who has not had the disability of minority
removed under Chapter 31 (Removal of Disabilities of Minority)).
Accordingly, the substitute redesignates Subdivisions (3) and (5) of the
original to Subdivisions (2) and (3) of the substitute. 

In proposed Section 33.002(a)(2), the substitute differs from the original
by specifying that the judge of a district court includes the judge of a
family district court.  Because of the substitute's inclusion of a family
district court, the substitute makes conforming changes in proposed
Sections 33.002(a)(3) and 33.003(b).  The substitute also differs from the
original in proposed Section 33.002(a)(2) by replacing "the judge of the
court of appeals" with "a court of appellate jurisdiction." 

In proposed Section 33.002(a)(4)(A), the substitute differs from the
original by providing that the physician performing the abortion must
conclude, on the basis of good faith clinical judgment, that a condition
exists that complicates the pregnant minor's medical condition and
necessitates the immediate abortion of her pregnancy to avert the minor's
death or to avoid a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment
of a major bodily function, rather than must conclude that a medical
emergency exists and there is insufficient time to provide the required
notice.  Because of this change in proposed Section 33.002(a)(4)(A), the
substitute makes a conforming change in proposed Section 33.002(a)(4)(B). 

In proposed Section 33.002(b), the substitute differs from the original by
specifying that the certified mail used by a physician to give constructive
notice must be in the form of restricted delivery.  The substitute also
makes nonsubstantive changes. 

The substitute differs from the original by redesignating proposed Section
33.002(c) of the original to Section 33.002(e).  The substitute adds a new
Section 33.002(c), authorizing the waiver of the requirement that 48 hours
actual notice be provided, by an affidavit of a parent of the minor or a
court-appointed managing conservator or guardian. 

The substitute differs from the original by redesignating proposed Section
33.002(d) of the original to Section 33.002(g).  The substitute adds new
Section 33.002(d), authorizing a physician to execute, for inclusion in the
minor's medical record, an affidavit stating that, according to the best
information and belief of the physician, the required notice or
constructive notice has been provided. The substitute also provides that
execution of this affidavit creates a conclusive presumption that the
requirements of proposed Section 33.002 have been satisfied. 

The substitute differs from the original by adding Section 33.002(f) to
provide that a certification required by proposed Section 33.002(a)(4) is
confidential and privileged and is not subject to disclosure under Chapter
552, Government Code, or to discovery, subpoena, or other legal process. In
new Section 33.002(f), the substitute also prohibits personal or
identifying information about the minor from being included in a
certification.  In addition, the substitute provides that the physician
must keep the minor's medical records in compliance with the rules adopted
by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners (board) under Section 5.085,
Article 4495b, V.T.C.S. (Medical Practice  Act). 

In redesignated Section 33.002(g) (previously, Section 33.002(d) of the
original), the substitute differs from the original by providing that a
physician who intentionally performs an abortion on a pregnant
unemancipated minor in violation of this section, rather than providing
that a physician who violates this section, commits a Class A misdemeanor.
The substitute defines "intentionally." 
 
In redesignated Section 33.002(h) (previously, Section 33.002(e) of the
original), the substitute differs from the original by providing that it is
a defense, rather than requiring the establishment of an affirmative
defense, to prosecution under proposed Section 33.002 that, rather than if,
the minor falsely represented her age or identity to the physician to be at
least 18 years of age by displaying an apparently valid governmental record
of identification such that a reasonable person under similar circumstances
would have relied on the representation.  The substitute also differs from
the original by defining "defense." 

The substitute differs from the original by adding Section 33.002(i) to
authorize the defendant in a trial in which the conduct charged involves a
conclusion made by the physician under proposed Section 33.002(a)(4) to
seek a hearing before the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners on whether
the physician's conduct was necessary to avert the death of the minor or to
avoid a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major
bodily function.  The substitute also provides that the findings of the
board are admissible on that issue in the trial of the defendant.  In
addition, the substitute requires the court, on motion of the defendant, to
delay the beginning of the trial for not more than 30 days to permit the
hearing before the board to occur. 

In proposed Section 33.003(b), the substitute differs from the original by
authorizing the minor's application for a court order authorizing the
performance of an abortion without notification of one of her parents,
managing conservator, or her guardian to be filed in any county court at
law, court having probate jurisdiction, or district court, including a
family district court, in this state, rather than in the county court at
law, a court having probate jurisdiction, or a district court for the
minor's county of residence, a county that borders the minor's county of
residence, or the county in which the hospital, clinic, or facility in
which the abortion is to be performed is located. 

In proposed Section 33.003(c), the substitute differs from the original by
removing the condition that the minor has not had her disabilities removed
for general purposes.  Consequently, the substitute provides that the minor
include a statement that she has not had her disabilities removed without
mention of their removal for general purposes. 

In proposed Section 33.003(d), the substitute differs from the original by
requiring the clerk of the court, rather than the minor, to deliver a
courtesy copy of the application to the judge who is to hear the
application.  Accordingly, the substitute removes the requirement that the
clerk of the court, at the time the application is filed with the court,
advise the minor of the place where the courtesy copy is to be delivered. 

The substitute differs from the original by redesignating proposed Section
33.003(f) of the original to Section 33.003(g).  The substitute adds a new
Section 33.003(f), enumerating the persons authorized to be appointed by
the court to serve as guardian ad litem (guardian).  Subsequently, the
substitute redesignates proposed Sections 33.003(g)-(m) of the original to
Sections 33.003(h)-(n). 

In redesignated Section 33.003(h) (previously, Section 33.003(g) of the
original), the substitute differs from the original by requiring the court,
on request by the minor, to grant an extension of the period specified by
redesignated Section 33.003(h), rather than authorizing the minor to
request an extension of the period.  In addition, the substitute requires
the court, if a request for an extension is made, to rule on an application
and to issue written findings of fact and conclusions of law by 5 p.m. on
the second business day after the minor states she is ready to proceed to
hearing.  In this same subsection, the substitute differs from the original
by providing that an application is considered to be granted and the
physician may perform the abortion as if the court had issued an order
authorizing the minor to consent to the performance of the abortion without
notification under Section 33.002, if the court fails to rule on the
application within the allotted time, rather than if the court fails to
rule on the application within the allotted time and an extension was not
requested. 
 
In redesignated Section 33.003(i) (previously, Section 33.003(h) of the
original), the substitute differs from the original by including whether
notification may lead to physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of the minor
among the factors a court is required to determine.  In this same section,
the substitute differs from the original by making a conforming change. 

In redesignated Section 33.003(j) (previously, Section 33.003(i) of the
original), the substitute differs from the original by making a conforming
change. 

In redesignated Section 33.003(k) (previously, Section 33.003(j) of the
original), the substitute differs from the original by including the
conditions that the application and all other documents pertaining to the
proceedings are privileged and are not subject to disclosure under Chapter
552, Government Code, or to discovery, subpoena, or other legal process, in
addition to the material being confidential.  The substitute also differs
from the original bill by removing the provision that explicitly prohibited
the distribution of this material to the public. 

In redesignated Section 33.003(l) (previously, Section 33.003(k) of the
original), the substitute differs from the original by including the
conditions that an order of the court issued under proposed Section 33.003
is privileged and is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552,
Government Code, or to discovery, subpoena, or other legal process, in
addition to the order being confidential.  The substitute also differs from
the original bill by including a governmental agency or attorney in a
criminal or administrative action seeking to assert or protect the interest
of the minor among the persons to whom the court's order can be released. 

In proposed Section 33.004(b), the substitute differs from the original by
requiring the court, on request by the minor, to grant an extension of the
period specified by proposed Section 33.004(b), rather than authorizing the
minor to request an extension of the period.  In addition, the substitute
requires the court, if a request for an extension is made, to rule on the
appeal by 5 p.m. on the second business day after the minor states she is
ready to proceed.  In this same subsection, the substitute differs from the
original by providing that the appeal is considered to be granted and the
physician may perform the abortion as if the court had issued an order
authorizing the minor to consent to the performance of the abortion without
notification under Section 33.002, if the court fails to rule on the appeal
within the allotted time, rather than if the court fails to rule on the
appeal within the allotted time and an extension was not requested. 

In proposed Section 33.004(c), the substitute differs from the original by
including the conditions that a ruling of the court of appeals issued under
proposed Section 33.004 is privileged and is not subject to disclosure
under Chapter 552, Government Code, or to discovery, subpoena, or other
legal process, in addition to the order being confidential.  The substitute
also differs from the original bill by including a governmental agency or
attorney in a criminal or administrative action seeking to assert or
protect the interest of the minor among the persons to whom the court's
ruling can be released. 

The substitute differs from the original by redesignating proposed Section
33.005 of the original to Section 33.006.  Subsequently, the substitute
redesignates proposed Sections 33.006 and 33.007 of the original to
Sections 33.007 and 33.009. 

The substitute adds a new Section 33.005.  In new Section 33.005(a), the
substitute authorizes a physician to execute, for inclusion in the minor's
medical record, an affidavit stating that, after reasonable inquiry, it is
the physician's belief that the minor has made an application or filed a
notice of appeal, that the deadline for court action has passed, and that
the physician has been notified that the court has not denied the
application or appeal.  In new Section 33.005(b), the substitute authorizes
a physician who in good faith has executed this affidavit to conclusively
rely on it and to perform the abortion. 

In redesignated Section 33.006 (previously, Section 33.005 of the
original), the substitute differs from the original by changing the title
of the section from "Ad Litem Immunity" to "Guardian Ad Litem Immunity."
The substitute also differs from the original by providing that a guardian,
rather than a guardian or attorney ad litem (attorney), appointed under
proposed Chapter 33 and acting in the course and scope of the appointment
is not liable for damages arising from an act or omission  of the guardian,
rather than of the guardian or attorney, committed in good faith.  The
substitute also adds the provision that the immunity granted by
redesignated Section 33.006 does not apply if the conduct of the guardian
is committed in a manner described by Sections 107.003(b)(1)-(4) (relating
to recklessly or negligently offered advice). 

In redesignated Section 33.007 (previously, Section 33.006 of the
original), the substitute differs from the original by making a conforming
change. 

The substitute differs from the original by adding Section 33.008.  In
Section 33.008(a), the substitute requires a physician who has reason to
believe that a minor has been or may be physically or sexually abused by a
person responsible for the minor's care, custody, or welfare, as that term
is defined by Section 261.001 (Definitions), to immediately report the
suspected abuse to the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
(DPRS) and to refer the minor to the department for services or
intervention that may be in the minor's best interest.   In Section
33.008(b), the substitute requires DPRS to investigate suspected abuse
reported under proposed Section 33.008 and, if appropriate, to assist the
minor in making an application with a court. 

In redesignated Section 33.009 (previously, Section 33.007 of the
original), the substitute differs from the original by changing the title
of the section from "Reporting of Sexual Abuse of a Minor" to "Other
Reports of Sexual Abuse of a Minor"  The substitute also differs from the
original by requiring a court or the guardian or attorney for the minor to
report conduct reasonably believed to violate Section 22.011, 22.021, or
25.02, Penal Code, rather than sexual abuse of the minor, based on
information obtained during a confidential court proceeding held under this
chapter.  The substitute makes conforming changes. 

The substitute differs from the original by adding Section 33.010.  In
Section 33.010, the substitute provides that information obtained by DPRS
or another entity under proposed Section 33.008 or 33.009 is confidential
except to the extent necessary to prove a violation of Section 22.011,
22.021, or 25.02, Penal Code, notwithstanding any other law. 

C.S.S.B. 30 differs from the original bill in SECTION 2 of the original by
making a nonsubstantive change. 

C.S.S.B. 30  differs from the original bill by removing SECTION 5 of the
original, which established the effective date for Section 33.002(d),
Family Code, as January 1, 2000.  Because of this removal, the substitute
makes a conforming change in SECTION 3 (effective date) of the original by
removing the phrase "except as provided by Section 5 of this Act."  In
addition, the removal of SECTION 5 of the original led to the redesignation
of SECTIONS 6-8 of the original to SECTIONS 5-7. 

In redesignated SECTION 6, the substitute makes a nonsubstantive change.