ยง 105.009. Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course.
(a) In a suit affecting the parent-child relationship, including an action to modify
an order in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship providing for possession
of or access to a child, the court may order the parties to the suit to attend a
parent education and family stabilization course if the court determines that the
order is in the best interest of the child.
(b) The parties to the suit may not be required to attend the course together. The
court, on its own motion or the motion of either party, may prohibit the parties
from taking the course together if there is a history of family violence in the
marriage.
(c) A course under this section must be at least four hours, but not more than 12
hours, in length and be designed to educate and assist parents with regard to the
consequences of divorce on parents and children. The course must include information
on the following issues:
(1) the emotional effects of divorce on parents;
(2) the emotional and behavioral reactions to divorce by young children and adolescents;
(3) parenting issues relating to the concerns and needs of children at different
development stages;
(4) stress indicators in young children and adolescents;
(5) conflict management;
(6) family stabilization through development of a co-parenting relationship;
(7) the financial responsibilities of parenting;
(8) family violence, spousal abuse, and child abuse and neglect; and
(9) the availability of community services and resources.
(d) A course may not be designed to provide individual mental health therapy or
individual legal advice.
(e) A course satisfies the requirements of this section if it is offered by:
(1) a mental health professional who has at least a master's degree with a background
in family therapy or parent education; or
(2) a religious practitioner who performs counseling consistent with the laws of
this state or another person designated as a program counselor by a church or religious
institution if the litigant so chooses.
(f) Information obtained in a course or a statement made by a participant to a suit
during a course may not be considered in the adjudication of the suit or in any
subsequent legal proceeding. Any report that results from participation in the course
may not become a record in the suit unless the parties stipulate to the record in
writing.
(g) The court may take appropriate action with regard to a party who fails to attend
or complete a course ordered by the court under this section, including holding
the party in contempt of court, striking pleadings, or invoking any sanction provided
by Rule 215, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. The failure or refusal by a party to
attend or complete a course required by this section may not delay the court from
rendering a judgment in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.
(h) The course required under this section may be completed by:
(1) personal instruction;
(2) videotape instruction;
(3) instruction through an electronic medium; or
(4) a combination of those methods.
(i) On completion of the course, the course provider shall issue a certificate of
completion to each participant. The certificate must state:
(1) the name of the participant;
(2) the name of the course provider;
(3) the date the course was completed; and
(4) whether the course was provided by:
(A) personal instruction;
(B) videotape instruction;
(C) instruction through an electronic medium; or
(D) a combination of those methods.
(j) The county clerk in each county may establish a registry of course providers
in the county and a list of locations at which courses are provided. The clerk shall
include information in the registry identifying courses that are offered on a sliding
fee scale or without charge.
(k) The court may not order the parties to a suit to attend a course under this
section if the parties cannot afford to take the course. If the parties cannot afford
to take a course, the court may direct the parties to a course that is offered on
a sliding fee scale or without charge, if a course of that type is available. A
party to a suit may not be required to pay more than $100 to attend a course ordered
under this section.
(l) A person who has attended a course under this section may not be required to
attend the course more than twice before the fifth anniversary of the date the person
completes the course for the first time.
(m) [Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 916] A course under this section must be
available in both English and Spanish.
(m) [Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 1171,] A course under this section in a
suit filed in a county with a population of more than two million that is adjacent
to a county with a population of more than one million must be available in both
English and Spanish