Proposed House Bill Requires Specialized Training When Children Have Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities
In most instances where there are minor children of divorce in Texas, child custody evaluations are not necessary, as the parents are able to come to a workable agreement regarding custody and visitation. When custody is contested, however, the courts typically order a study conducted by a professional before making a ruling. Under a proposed House Bill, the Family Code would be amended to require that all such custody evaluators have a minimum of three hours of specialized training caring for children with these types of disabilities.
Texas Law Grants Equal Rights to Mothers and Fathers
The Texas Family Code mandates that fathers and mothers have equal rights with respect to custody of and visitation with their minor children.
Texas Legislators Seek to Protect Children with Intellectual or Developmental Challenges
Understanding the unique issues facing parents and children when there are intellectual or developmental disabilities, the Texas legislature seeks to ensure that those conducting the assessments have the requisite training to make recommendations that are in the “best interests of the child,” as mandated by Texas law. Under the law as initially proposed, the training included “education, therapy, preparation for independent living and methods for addressing physical or mental health challenges.” As revised and currently proposed, the training may in any one of the areas specified, but need not be in all of them (the word “and” has been changed to “or”),
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