85R1601 YDB-D     By: Wu H.B. No. 687       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a motion for a new trial following a final order in   certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship and filing an   appeal after those motions.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Sections 263.405(a) and (b), Family Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (a)  An appeal of a final order rendered under this   subchapter is governed by this subchapter and the procedures for   accelerated appeals in civil cases under the Texas Rules of   Appellate Procedure.  The appellate court shall render its final   order or judgment with the least possible delay.          (b)  A final order rendered under this subchapter must   contain the following prominently displayed statement in boldfaced   type, in capital letters, or underlined: "A PARTY AFFECTED BY THIS   ORDER HAS THE RIGHT TO APPEAL.  AN APPEAL IN A SUIT IN WHICH   TERMINATION OF THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP IS SOUGHT IS GOVERNED   BY SUBCHAPTER E, CHAPTER 263, FAMILY CODE, AND THE PROCEDURES FOR   ACCELERATED APPEALS IN CIVIL CASES UNDER THE TEXAS RULES OF   APPELLATE PROCEDURE.  FAILURE TO FOLLOW SUBCHAPTER E, CHAPTER 263,   FAMILY CODE, AND THE TEXAS RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE FOR   ACCELERATED APPEALS MAY RESULT IN THE DISMISSAL OF THE APPEAL."          SECTION 2.  Subchapter E, Chapter 263, Family Code, is   amended by adding Section 263.4055 to read as follows:          Sec. 263.4055.  MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL ON FINAL ORDER; TIME FOR   FILING AN APPEAL. (a) A motion for a new trial following a final   order rendered under this subchapter must be filed not later than   the fifth day after the date the final order is rendered.          (b)  The court shall hold a hearing on the motion for a new   trial not later than the 14th day after the date the motion is   filed.           (c)  If a motion for a new trial is filed, an appeal of a   final order under Section 263.405 must be filed not later than the   20th day after the date the court rules on the motion for a new   trial.          (d)  To the extent that this section conflicts with the Texas   Rules of Civil Procedure or the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure,   this section controls. Notwithstanding Section 22.004, Government   Code, this section may not be modified or repealed by a rule adopted   by the supreme court.          SECTION 3.  (a)  Sections 263.405(a) and (b), Family Code,   as amended by this Act, apply only to an appeal of a final order   rendered on or after the effective date of this Act. An appeal of a   final order rendered before that date is governed by the law in   effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that   law is continued in effect for that purpose.          (b)  Section 263.4055, Family Code, as added by this Act,   applies only to a motion for a new trial following a final order   rendered on or after the effective date of this Act. A motion for a   new trial following a final order rendered before the effective   date of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before   the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect   for that purpose.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.