HBA-AMW H.B. 2299 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2299
By: Thompson
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
6/5/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Although Texas has adopted the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and
Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) relating to interstate child custody jurisdiction
issues, some states have not yet adopted these laws.  As a result, there is
often conflict as to which state has jurisdiction over an interstate child
custody case.  House Bill 2299 requires a Texas court to inform a court in
another state of simultaneous child custody proceedings and request the
court in another state to hold the proceeding in that court in abeyance
until the Texas court determines whether it has jurisdiction over the
proceeding. 

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 2299 amends the Family Code to require a court of this state to
inform a court of another state of simultaneous proceedings, if proceedings
involving the same parties are pending simultaneously in a court of this
state and a court of another state.  The bill requires the court of this
state to request that the other court hold the proceeding in that court in
abeyance until the court in this state conducts a hearing to determine
whether the court has jurisdiction over the proceeding. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

May 24, 2001.