By: Watson S.B. No. 1598
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to an agreement authorizing a nonparent relative of a
  child to make certain decisions regarding the child; providing a
  penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle A, Title 2, Family Code, is amended by
  adding Chapter 34 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 34. AUTHORIZATION AGREEMENT FOR NONPARENT RELATIVE
         Sec. 34.001.  APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies only to
  an authorization agreement between a parent of a child and a person
  who is the child's:
               (1)  grandparent;
               (2)  adult sibling; or
               (3)  adult aunt or uncle.
         Sec. 34.002.  AUTHORIZATION AGREEMENT. (a)  A parent or
  both parents of a child may enter into an authorization agreement
  with a relative of the child listed in Section 34.001 to authorize
  the relative to perform the following acts in regard to the child:
               (1)  to authorize medical, dental, psychological, or
  surgical treatment and immunization of the child, including
  executing any consents or authorizations for the release of
  information as required by law relating to the treatment or
  immunization;
               (2)  to obtain and maintain health insurance coverage
  for the child and automobile insurance coverage for the child, if
  appropriate;
               (3)  to enroll the child in a day-care program or
  preschool or in a public or private primary or secondary school;
               (4)  to authorize the child to participate in
  age-appropriate extracurricular, civic, social, or recreational
  activities, including athletic activities;
               (5)  to authorize the child to obtain a learner's
  permit, driver's license, or state-issued identification card;
               (6)  to authorize employment of the child; and
               (7)  to apply for and receive public benefits on behalf
  of the child.
         (b)  To the extent of any conflict or inconsistency between
  this chapter and any other law relating to the eligibility
  requirements other than parental consent to obtain a service under
  Subsection (a), the other law controls.
         (c)  An authorization agreement under this chapter does not
  confer on a relative of the child listed in Section 34.001 the right
  to authorize the performance of an abortion on the child or the
  administration of emergency contraception to the child.
         Sec. 34.003.  CONTENTS OF AUTHORIZATION AGREEMENT. (a)  The
  authorization agreement must contain:
               (1)  the following information from the relative of the
  child to whom the parent is giving authorization:
                     (A)  the name and signature of the relative;
                     (B)  the relative's relationship to the child; and
                     (C)  the relative's current physical address and
  telephone number or the best way to contact the relative;
               (2)  the following information from the parent:
                     (A)  the name and signature of the parent; and
                     (B)  the parent's current address and telephone
  number or the best way to contact the parent;
               (3)  the information in Subdivision (2) with respect to
  the other parent, if applicable;
               (4)  a statement that the relative has been given
  authorization to perform the functions listed in Section 34.002(a)
  as a result of a voluntary action of the parent and that the
  relative has voluntarily assumed the responsibility of performing
  those functions;
               (5)  statements that neither the parent nor the
  relative has knowledge that a parent, guardian, custodian, licensed
  child-placing agency, or other authorized agency asserts any claim
  or authority inconsistent with the authorization agreement under
  this chapter with regard to actual physical possession or care,
  custody, or control of the child;
               (6)  statements that:
                     (A)  to the best of the parent's and relative's
  knowledge:
                           (i)  there is no court order or pending suit
  affecting the parent-child relationship concerning the child;
                           (ii)  there is no pending litigation in any
  court concerning:
                                 (a)  custody, possession, or placement
  of the child; or
                                 (b)  access to or visitation with the
  child; and
                           (iii)  the court does not have continuing
  jurisdiction concerning the child; or
                     (B)  the court with continuing jurisdiction
  concerning the child has given written approval for the execution
  of the authorization agreement accompanied by the following
  information:
                           (i)  the county in which the court is
  located;
                           (ii)  the number of the court; and
                           (iii)  the cause number in which the order
  was issued or the litigation is pending;
               (7)  a statement that the authorization is made in
  conformance with this chapter;
               (8)  a statement that the parent and the relative
  understand that each party to the authorization agreement is
  required by law to immediately provide to each other party
  information regarding any change in the party's address or contact
  information;
               (9)  a statement by the parent that establishes the
  circumstances under which the authorization agreement expires,
  including that the authorization agreement:
                     (A)  is valid until revoked;
                     (B)  continues in effect after the death or during
  any incapacity of the parent; or
                     (C)  expires on a date stated in the authorization
  agreement; and
               (10)  space for the signature and seal of a notary
  public.
         (b)  The authorization agreement must contain the following
  warnings and disclosures:
               (1)  that the authorization agreement is an important
  legal document;
               (2)  that the parent and the relative must read all of
  the warnings and disclosures before signing the authorization
  agreement;
               (3)  that the persons signing the authorization
  agreement are not required to consult an attorney but are advised to
  do so;
               (4)  that the parent's rights as a parent may be
  adversely affected by placing or leaving the parent's child with
  another person;
               (5)  that the authorization agreement does not confer
  on the relative the rights of a managing or possessory conservator
  or legal guardian;
               (6)  that a parent who is a party to the authorization
  agreement may terminate the authorization agreement and resume
  custody, possession, care, and control of the child on demand and
  that at any time the parent may request the return of the child;
               (7)  that failure by the relative to return the child to
  the parent immediately on request may have criminal and civil
  consequences;
               (8)  that, under other applicable law, the relative may
  be liable for certain expenses relating to the child in the
  relative's care but that the parent still retains the parental
  obligation to support the child;
               (9)  that, in certain circumstances, the authorization
  agreement may not be entered into without written permission of the
  court;
               (10)  that the authorization agreement may be
  terminated by certain court orders affecting the child;
               (11)  that the authorization agreement is void unless
  the parties mail a copy of the authorization agreement to a parent
  who was not a party to the authorization agreement, if the parent is
  living and the parent's parental rights have not been terminated,
  not later than the 10th day after the date the authorization
  agreement is signed; and
               (12)  that the authorization agreement does not confer
  on a relative of the child the right to authorize the performance of
  an abortion on the child or the administration of emergency
  contraception to the child.
         Sec. 34.004.  EXECUTION OF AUTHORIZATION AGREEMENT.
  (a)  The authorization agreement must be signed and sworn to before
  a notary public by the parent and the relative.
         (b)  A parent may not execute an authorization agreement
  without a written order by the appropriate court if:
               (1)  there is a court order or pending suit affecting
  the parent-child relationship concerning the child;
               (2)  there is pending litigation in any court
  concerning:
                     (A)  custody, possession, or placement of the
  child; or
                     (B)  access to or visitation with the child; or
               (3)  the court has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction
  over the child.
         (c)  An authorization agreement obtained in violation of
  Subsection (b) is void.
         Sec. 34.005.  DUTIES OF PARTIES TO AUTHORIZATION AGREEMENT.
  (a)  If both parents did not sign the authorization agreement, the
  parties shall mail a copy of the executed authorization agreement
  to the parent who was not a party to the authorization agreement at
  the parent's last known address not later than the 10th day after
  the date the authorization agreement is executed if that parent is
  living and that parent's parental rights have not been terminated.
  An authorization agreement is void if the parties fail to comply
  with this subsection.
         (b)  A party to the authorization agreement shall
  immediately inform each other party of any change in the party's
  address or contact information. If a party fails to comply with
  this subsection, the authorization agreement is voidable by the
  other party.
         Sec. 34.006.  AUTHORIZATION VOIDABLE.  An authorization
  agreement is voidable by a party if the other party knowingly:
               (1)  obtained the authorization agreement by fraud,
  duress, or misrepresentation; or
               (2)  made a false statement on the authorization
  agreement.
         Sec. 34.007.  EFFECT OF AUTHORIZATION AGREEMENT. (a)  A
  person who is not a party to the authorization agreement who relies
  in good faith on an authorization agreement under this chapter,
  without actual knowledge that the authorization agreement is void,
  revoked, or invalid, is not subject to civil or criminal liability
  to any person, and is not subject to professional disciplinary
  action, for that reliance if the agreement is completed as required
  by this chapter.
         (b)  The authorization agreement does not affect the rights
  of the child's parent or legal guardian regarding the care,
  custody, and control of the child, and does not mean that the
  relative has legal custody of the child.
         (c)  An authorization agreement executed under this chapter
  does not confer or affect standing or a right of intervention in any
  proceeding under Title 5.
         Sec. 34.008.  TERMINATION OF AUTHORIZATION AGREEMENT.  
  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), an authorization
  agreement under this chapter terminates if, after the execution of
  the authorization agreement, a court enters an order:
               (1)  affecting the parent-child relationship;
               (2)  concerning custody, possession, or placement of
  the child;
               (3)  concerning access to or visitation with the child;
  or
               (4)  regarding the appointment of a guardian for the
  child under Section 676, Texas Probate Code.
         (b)  An authorization agreement may continue after a court
  order described by Subsection (a) is entered if the court entering
  the order gives written permission.
         (c)  An authorization agreement under this chapter
  terminates on written revocation by a party to the authorization
  agreement if the party:
               (1)  gives each party written notice of the revocation;
               (2)  files the written revocation with the clerk of the
  county in which:
                     (A)  the child resides;
                     (B)  the child resided at the time the
  authorization agreement was executed; or
                     (C)  the relative resides; and
               (3)  files the written revocation with the clerk of
  each court:
                     (A)  that has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction
  over the child;
                     (B)  in which there is a court order or pending
  suit affecting the parent-child relationship concerning the child;
                     (C)  in which there is pending litigation
  concerning:
                           (i)  custody, possession, or placement of
  the child; or
                           (ii)  access to or visitation with the
  child; or
                     (D)  that has entered an order regarding the
  appointment of a guardian for the child under Section 676, Texas
  Probate Code.
         (d)  If an authorization agreement executed under this
  chapter does not state when the authorization agreement expires,
  the authorization agreement is valid until revoked.
         (e)  If both parents have signed the authorization
  agreement, either parent may revoke the authorization agreement
  without the other parent's consent.
         Sec. 34.009.  PENALTY. (a)  A person commits an offense if
  the person knowingly:
               (1)  presents a document that is not a valid
  authorization agreement as a valid authorization agreement under
  this chapter;
               (2)  makes a false statement on an authorization
  agreement; or
               (3)  obtains an authorization agreement by fraud,
  duress, or misrepresentation.
         (b)  An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.
         SECTION 2.  The Department of Family and Protective Services
  shall prescribe forms for the disclosure statement and
  authorization agreement under Chapter 34, Family Code, as added by
  this Act, not later than January 1, 2010.  The department and the
  Texas Education Agency shall make the forms available on their
  Internet websites or provide paper copies to the public on request
  without charge.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2009.