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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to placing a child in the possessory conservatorship of |
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the child's parents in certain situations. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 263, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 263.504 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 263.504. RETURNING CHILD TO PARENT. (a) At each |
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placement review hearing after the second anniversary of the date |
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the court rendered the final order naming the department or another |
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person as the child's managing conservator without terminating |
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parental rights, the department shall review the child's placement |
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to determine whether the child could be returned to the child's |
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parent if the parent was named possessory conservator for the child |
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in the final order. |
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(b) The department may recommend reunification with the |
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child's parent if the department finds: |
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(1) the parent of the child has remedied the condition |
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or conditions that led to removal of the child; |
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(2) the parent of the child is willing and able to care |
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for the child; |
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(3) the best interest of the child will be served by |
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placing the child with the child's parent; |
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(4) the child's preference is to reside with the |
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child's parent; and |
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(5) the child does not have other options for |
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permanency. |
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(c) The court may return the child to the child's parent if |
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the court finds it is in the best interest of the child. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a |
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placement review hearing held on or after the effective date of this |
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Act regardless of the date on which the Department of Family and |
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Protective Services is named the child's managing conservator. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |