By: Nelson  S.B. No. 425
         (In the Senate - Filed February 7, 2013; February 13, 2013,
  read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human
  Services; February 26, 2013, reported favorably by the following
  vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0; February 26, 2013, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to foster care placement decisions made by the Department
  of Family and Protective Services.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subsection (e), Section 264.107, Family Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (e)  In making placement decisions, the department shall:
               (1)  except when making an emergency placement that
  does not allow time for the required consultations, consult with
  the child's caseworker, [and the child's] attorney ad litem, and
  guardian ad litem and with any[, or] court-appointed volunteer
  advocate for the child [when possible]; and
               (2)  use clinical protocols to match a child to the most
  appropriate placement resource.
         SECTION 2.  Subsection (e), Section 264.107, Family Code, as
  amended by this Act, applies only to a foster care placement
  decision made by the Department of Family and Protective Services
  on or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
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