PREVENT INTERNATIONAL PARENTAL CHILD ABDUCTION

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Join PIPCA in supporting laws for the Prevention of International Parental Child Abduction in every State

Prevent International Parental Child Abduction (PIPCA) was formed by Teresa Lauderdale, Cathy Brown, and Nina Lauderdale to help protect children from international parental child abduction, and to increase awareness of the tragedy of international abduction and of preventive measures that can be ordered by a Court when a child is at risk of abduction. PIPCA can assist in arranging training, expert testimony, and general advice on this issue.

Laws Enacted to Prevent International Parental Child Abduction

TEXAS 

In 2003, Texas enacted landmark legislation, Prevention of International Parental Child Abduction, to be added to Chapter 153 of the Texas Family Code (as Subsections 153.501-153.503).  The act, HB1899, was introduced in the Texas Legislature at the request of Cathy Brown and Teresa Lauderdale. It passed both chambers unanimously, and was signed into law by the Governor, effective immediately.

"This legislation will give our courts the tools they need to prevent children from being abducted into foreign countries where they are out of the reach of our laws. No child should be forcibly separated from their mother or father, and the courts must step in to protect that child whenever there is a flight risk, especially into nations that do not cooperate with our courts." Senator Nelson said. "International child abduction is not only devastating to the child and parent, it creates an enormous financial burden both for the parent and for the government to recover and return the missing child."Without the safeguards in HB 1899, a parent has no means to protect their child even if they know an abduction is about to take place or is in progress. There are a number of cases where parents pleaded for safeguards from Courts unsuccessfully; the children were then abducted, never to be heard from again. HB 1899 will increase awareness in the Texas courts regarding the risks, obstacles to recovery, and safeguards needed to protect at-risk children. We encourage all other States to pass similar legislation.

Information on HB 1899: http://web.archive.org/web/20071217113707/http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/ (Input: 78th Regular Session - 2003; HB1899) 

See TX Family Code at  http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/FA/content/htm/fa.005.00.000153.00.htm under CHAPTER 153. CONSERVATORSHIP, POSSESSION, AND ACCESS
  • SECTION 153.501. NECESSITY OF MEASURES TO PREVENT INTERNATIONAL PARENTAL CHILD ABDUCTION
  • SECTION 153.502. ABDUCTION RISK FACTORS
  • SECTION 153.503. ABDUCTION PREVENTION MEASURES

OTHER STATES:

Commissioners from Texas then took the code to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws , who then developed a Model Child Abduction Prevention Act which all states are encouraged to pass.  Teresa Lauderdale participated as an official Observer throughout the process.  For a copy of the model act, and an update on states which have passed this legislation, see http://www.nccusl.org/Update/ActSearchResults.aspx.

 All States are encouraged to pass this model act, or a law similar to it.  Some states have modified the language somewhat to further protect victims of domestic violence.  For more information on this, please feel free to contact us.

For more information on PIPCA, see tabs located at the top of this page.

Nina Lauderdale, Cathy Brown, Larry Whyte, Senator Jane Nelson, Greg Allen, Teresa Lauderdale, Michael Rives
Austin, Texas, May 2003
78th Texas Legislature, House Bill 1899

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Prevent International Parental Child Abduction

www.pipca.org