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.