H.B. No. 1410         AN ACT   relating to the ability of foster parents to intervene in certain   suits affecting the parent-child relationship.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 102.004, Family Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as   follows:          (b)  An original suit requesting possessory conservatorship   may not be filed by a grandparent or other person.  However, the   court may grant a grandparent or other person, subject to the   requirements of Subsection (b-1) if applicable, deemed by the court   to have had substantial past contact with the child leave to   intervene in a pending suit filed by a person authorized to do so   under this chapter [subchapter] if there is satisfactory proof to   the court that appointment of a parent as a sole managing   conservator or both parents as joint managing conservators would   significantly impair the child's physical health or emotional   development.          (b-1)  A foster parent may only be granted leave to intervene   under Subsection (b) if the foster parent would have standing to   file an original suit as provided by Section 102.003(a)(12).          SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to   an original suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed on   or after the effective date of this Act. An original suit affecting   the parent-child relationship filed before the effective date of   this Act is subject to the law in effect at the time the suit was   filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 1410 was passed by the House on May 4,   2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 0, 2 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.B. No. 1410 was passed by the Senate on May   19, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate       APPROVED:  _____________________                      Date                           _____________________                    Governor