HBA-EDN, LJP H.B. 1137 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1137 By: Menendez Juvenile Justice & Family Issues 2/18/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, in a suit in which adoption is requested or possession of or access to the child is an issue and in which the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services is not a party to the suit, a court is required to appoint a private agency or person to conduct a social study of the child and of the home of any person requesting possession of the child. House Bill 1137 includes a domestic relations office as an agency that is authorized to be appointed by a court to conduct such a social study. 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. ANALYSIS House Bill 1137 amends the Family Code to provide that a court may appoint a domestic relations office to conduct a social study into the circumstances and condition of a child and of the home of any person requesting managing conservatorship or possession of the child in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.