Bill Text: TX HB4355 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Comm Sub


Bill Title: Relating to the interview of a child in a suit affecting a parent-child relationship.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-05-04 - Comm. report sent to Local & Consent Calendar [HB4355 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB4355-Comm_Sub.html
  88R22031 MLH-D
 
  By: Wu H.B. No. 4355
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4355:
 
  By:  Wu C.S.H.B. No. 4355
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the interview of a child in a suit affecting a
  parent-child relationship.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 153.009, Family Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 153.009.  INTERVIEW OF CHILD BY COURT [IN CHAMBERS].
         SECTION 2.  Section 153.009, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a), (b), (d), and (f) and adding Subsection
  (g) to read as follows:
         (a)  In a nonjury trial or at a hearing, on the application of
  a party, the amicus attorney, or the attorney ad litem for the
  child, the court shall interview [in chambers] a child 12 years of
  age or older and may interview [in chambers] a child under 12 years
  of age to determine the child's wishes as to conservatorship or as
  to the person who shall have the exclusive right to determine the
  child's primary residence. The court may also interview a child [in
  chambers] on the court's own motion for a purpose specified by this
  subsection. The court may interview the child in chambers or in
  another location used by the court.
         (b)  In a nonjury trial or at a hearing, on the application of
  a party, the amicus attorney, or the attorney ad litem for the child
  or on the court's own motion, the court may interview the child
  under this section [in chambers] to determine the child's wishes as
  to possession, access, or any other issue in the suit affecting the
  parent-child relationship.
         (d)  In a jury trial, the court may not interview the child
  under this section [in chambers] regarding an issue on which a party
  is entitled to a jury verdict.
         (f)  If the child is 12 years of age or older, the court:
               (1)  may cause a record of the interview to be made on
  the court's own motion; or
               (2)  on [On] the motion of a party, the amicus attorney,
  or the attorney ad litem for the child, [or on the court's own
  motion, the court] shall cause:
                     (A)  a record of the interview to be made; and
                     (B)  the [when the child is 12 years of age or
  older.  A] record of the interview to [shall] be part of the record
  in the case.
         (g)  A court shall order the sealing of a record of an
  interview made under this section unless a party has filed a notice
  of appeal for the suit.
         SECTION 3.  Section 156.006(b), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  While a suit for modification is pending, the court may
  not render a temporary order that has the effect of creating a
  designation, or changing the designation, of the person who has the
  exclusive right to designate the primary residence of the child, or
  the effect of creating a geographic area, or changing or
  eliminating the geographic area, within which a conservator must
  maintain the child's primary residence, under the final order
  unless the temporary order is in the best interest of the child and:
               (1)  the order is necessary because the child's present
  circumstances would significantly impair the child's physical
  health or emotional development;
               (2)  the person designated in the final order has
  voluntarily relinquished the primary care and possession of the
  child for more than six months; or
               (3)  the child is 12 years of age or older and has
  expressed to the court [in chambers] as provided by Section 153.009
  the name of the person who is the child's preference to have the
  exclusive right to designate the primary residence of the child.
         SECTION 4.  Section 156.101(a), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  The court may modify an order that provides for the
  appointment of a conservator of a child, that provides the terms and
  conditions of conservatorship, or that provides for the possession
  of or access to a child if modification would be in the best
  interest of the child and:
               (1)  the circumstances of the child, a conservator, or
  other party affected by the order have materially and substantially
  changed since the earlier of:
                     (A)  the date of the rendition of the order; or
                     (B)  the date of the signing of a mediated or
  collaborative law settlement agreement on which the order is based;
               (2)  the child is at least 12 years of age and has
  expressed to the court [in chambers] as provided by Section 153.009
  the name of the person who is the child's preference to have the
  exclusive right to designate the primary residence of the child; or
               (3)  the conservator who has the exclusive right to
  designate the primary residence of the child has voluntarily
  relinquished the primary care and possession of the child to
  another person for at least six months.
         SECTION 5.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship pending on the
  effective date of this Act or filed on or after that date.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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