85R1624 MK-D     By: Ortega H.B. No. 1410       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   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(b), Family Code, is amended 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 deemed by the court to   have had substantial past contact with the child or a foster parent   described by Section 102.003(a)(12) 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.          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.