89R9402 AMF-D     By: Curry H.B. No. 4942       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to certain services and interventions ordered in a suit   affecting a parent-child relationship and to certain judicial   training requirements.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 153.004, Family Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (f-1) to read as follows:          (f-1)  The court may not require a party or a child to   participate in a service or intervention related to family violence   or child abuse or neglect unless:                (1)  the service or intervention is evidence-based; and                (2)  there is generally accepted proof of the   effectiveness, therapeutic value, and physical and psychological   safety of the service or intervention.          SECTION 2.  Section 153.010(a), Family Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  If the court finds at the time of a hearing that the   parties have a history of conflict in resolving an issue of   conservatorship or possession of or access to the child, the court   may order a party to:                (1)  participate in counseling with a mental health   professional who:                      (A)  has a background in family therapy;                      (B)  has a mental health license that requires as   a minimum a master's degree; and                      (C)  has training in family [domestic] violence or   child abuse and neglect if the court determines that the training is   relevant to the type of counseling needed; and                (2)  pay the cost of counseling.          SECTION 3.  Section 22.011(d), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (d)  The instruction must be evidence-based and include   information about:                (1)  statutory and case law relating to videotaping a   child's testimony and relating to competency of children to   testify;                (2)  methods for eliminating the trauma to the child   caused by the court process;                (3)  case law, statutory law, and procedural rules   relating to family violence, sexual assault, trafficking of   persons, and child abuse;                (4)  methods for providing protection for victims of   family violence, sexual assault, trafficking of persons, or child   abuse;                (5)  available community and state resources for   counseling and other aid to victims and to offenders;                (6)  gender bias in the judicial process;                (7)  dynamics and effects of being a victim of family   violence, sexual assault, trafficking of persons, or child abuse;   [and]                (8)  issues concerning sex offender characteristics;   and                 (9)  methods for evaluating the validity of a service   or intervention to address child abuse or neglect or family   violence that may be ordered by the court in a suit affecting the   parent-child relationship under Title 5, Family Code, to ensure the   service or intervention is effective, has therapeutic value, and is   physically and psychologically safe.          SECTION 4.  Section 22.110(d), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (d)  The instruction must be evidence-based and include   information about:                (1)  statutory and case law relating to videotaping a   child's testimony and relating to competency of children to   testify;                (2)  methods for eliminating the trauma to the child   caused by the court process;                (3)  case law, statutory law, and procedural rules   relating to family violence, sexual assault, trafficking of   persons, and child abuse and neglect;                (4)  methods for providing protection for victims of   family violence, sexual assault, trafficking of persons, and child   abuse and neglect;                (5)  available community and state resources for   counseling and other aid to victims and to offenders;                (6)  gender bias in the judicial process;                (7)  dynamics and effects of being a victim of sexual   assault, trafficking of persons, or child abuse and neglect;                (8)  dynamics of sexual abuse of children, including   child abuse accommodation syndrome and grooming;                (9)  impact of substance abuse on an unborn child and on   a person's ability to care for a child;                (10)  issues of attachment and bonding between children   and caregivers;                (11)  issues of child development that pertain to   trafficking of persons and child abuse and neglect;                (12)  medical findings regarding physical abuse,   sexual abuse, trafficking of persons, and child abuse and neglect;   [and]                (13)  dynamics of family violence; and                 (14)  methods for evaluating the validity of a service   or intervention to address family violence or child abuse or   neglect that may be ordered by the court in a suit affecting the   parent-child relationship under Title 5, Family Code, to ensure the   service or intervention is effective, has therapeutic value, and is   physically and psychologically safe.          SECTION 5.  The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter   153, Family Code, apply 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 6.  (a)  As soon as practicable after the effective   date of this Act, the Supreme Court of Texas shall adopt the rules   necessary to provide the training required under Section 22.011,   Government Code, as amended by this Act.          (b)  As soon as practicable after the effective date of this   Act, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals shall adopt the rules   necessary to provide the training required under Section 22.110,   Government Code, as amended by this Act.          SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.