H.B. No. 149
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the appointment of a parenting coordinator or parenting
  facilitator in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 153.609(d), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (d)  If due to hardship the parties are unable to pay the fees
  of a parenting coordinator, and a domestic relations office or a
  comparable county agency [public employee] is not available under
  Subsection (c), the court, if feasible, may appoint a person who
  meets the minimum qualifications prescribed by Section 153.610,
  including an employee of the court, to act as a parenting
  coordinator on a volunteer basis and without compensation.
         SECTION 2.  Section 153.6091, Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 153.6091.  COMPENSATION OF PARENTING FACILITATOR.  
  Section 153.609 applies to [the compensation of] a parenting
  facilitator in the same manner as provided for [the compensation
  of] a parenting coordinator, except that a person appointed in
  accordance with Section 153.609(d) to act as a parenting
  facilitator must meet the minimum qualifications prescribed by
  Section 153.6101.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies to a
  suit affecting the parent-child relationship that is pending in a
  trial court on the effective date of this Act or that is filed on or
  after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 4.  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, 2011.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 149 was passed by the House on March
  30, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 149 was passed by the Senate on May
  24, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0
  .
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor