Vernon's Texas Rules Annotated - VTRA TX R PARKER CTY LOC RLS DIST CT APPENDIX C

<[Pub. note: Numbering is as provided in the August 17, 2004 Supreme Court Order approving the rules.]>

The undersigned Presiding Judges find that the best interest of the children of the parties involved in a contested original suit affecting the parent-child relationship or in contested suits to modify existing orders of conservatorship or possession require that prior to final trial on the merits that any person seeking to become a managing conservator (temporary or permanent, sole or joint) and any person seeking to be appointed possessory conservator (temporary or permanent) or seeking access to a child shall successfully complete a parenting program concerning the developmental needs of children with emphasis on fostering the child's emotional health during periods of stress.

A list of approved programs and dates and times for such programs shall be obtained from the office of the clerk of the applicable court. Parties who wish to satisfy the requirement with another program may submit information regarding the program to the court for approval prior to enrollment in the program.

This ORDER applies to all persons seeking to become a managing or possessory conservator (whether sole, joint, temporary or permanent) in all contested original actions affecting the parent-child relationship or contested actions to modify existing orders or conservatorship or possession. The lawyer filing the case shall provide a copy of this ORDER to the petitioner/movant. The clerk of the court shall provide a copy of this ORDER to all pro se parties. Additionally, the clerk of the court shall attach a copy of this ORDER to each citation or notice of hearing which is to be served in any suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

The program shall be successfully completed no later than 30 days from trial and evidence of completion shall be filed with the clerk of the court at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the trial date.

A party's failure to successfully complete the program pursuant to this rule may result in the court not appointing the party managing conservator or possessory conservator or in the court not granting specific periods of possession or access until the court is supplied with evidence of successful completion of this program. Additionally, the court may take appropriate action for failing to comply with this ORDER, including but not limited to sanctions for contempt of court.

SO ORDERED this the 7th day of August, 2008.

Adopted by order of April 7, 2009, eff. April 1, 2009.