HBA-BSM, CBW H.B. 283 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 283 By: King, Phil Juvenile Justice & Family Issues 2/11/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, if a court orders the standard possession order relating to possession of or access to a child in a divorce case, the order is copied in full into the divorce decree. House Bill 283 is intended to alleviate possible confusion and make the provisions regarding possession of or access to a child in the divorce decree easier to access and interpret by copying the order into a one page document that refers to the applicable statutory sections. 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 283 amends the Family Code to establish that a court order that provides for the possession of or access to a child and that does not vary from the standard possession order is considered to sufficiently state the terms of possession and access by merely referring to the applicable statutory sections regarding standard possession orders. If the court finds that the period of possession of or access to a child should vary from the standard possession order, the bill provides that the order is considered to sufficiently state the terms of possession and access by referring to the applicable statutory sections and stating any variation from the standard possession order. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.