Bill: HB 3003, 84(R) - 2015
Committee
House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Vote Recommendation
| Vote Recommendation |
Economic Freedom |
Property Rights |
Personal Responsibility |
Limited Government |
Individual Liberty |
| Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Author(s)
Senfronia Thompson
Bill Caption
Relating to the appointment of counsel in certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship.
Fiscal Notes
There is no significant fiscal implication to the State.
Local Government
There could be costs to a county that chose to establish an Office of
Child Representation, an Office of Parent Representation, or a Managed
Assigned Counsel Program. However, it is assumed that a county would
establish a program only if sufficient funds were available or it would
not result in a negative fiscal impact; therefore, no significant fiscal
impact is anticipated.
Bill Analysis
HB 3003 amend the Family Code to authorize the commissioners of either
one county or multiple counties to establish an Office of Parent
Representation and an Office of Child Representation, which would provide attorneys to represent parents and children in parental rights cases and conservator appointment cases. These offices would be operated by the county or counties and funded by county funds. The bill would also authorize a county to establish a county-funded Managed Assigned Counsel Program for the same purposes, but this program would be run by a governmental entity, nonprofit organization, or the local bar association.
Vote Recommendation Notes
This bill has no discernible connection to the principles of liberty and authorizes counties to create these programs if the funds are available and there is a need. This is permissive and does not create an unfunded mandate. For this reason, we remain neutral on HB 3003.
