HBA-CBW H.B. 1377 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1377
By: Menendez
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
3/18/2001
Committee Report (Amended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, if the court finds that the Department of Protective and
Regulatory Services (department) has been the temporary or sole managing
conservator of the child for the six months preceding the filing of the
petition, then the court may terminate the parent-child relationship.
House Bill 1377 provides that the court may terminate the parent-child
relationship if the department has been temporary or sole managing
conservator for six months, rather than the six months preceding the filing
of the petition. 

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 1377 amends the Family Code to authorize the court to order the
termination of the parent-child relationship in a suit filed by the
Department of Protective and Regulatory Services if the court finds that
the department has been the temporary or sole managing conservator of the
child for six months, rather than the six months preceding the filing of
the petition. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

Committee Amendment No. 1 specifies that the time period be at least six
months preceding the date of the hearing on the termination, if the court
finds that the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services has been
the temporary or sole managing conservator of the child of the parent.