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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the court's review of the placement of a child in |
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certain court orders relating to a suit affecting the parent-child |
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relationship involving a child in the conservatorship of the |
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Department of Family and Protective Services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 262, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 262.0022 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 262.0022. REVIEW OF PLACEMENT; FINDINGS. At each |
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hearing under this chapter, the court shall review the placement of |
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each child in the temporary or permanent managing conservatorship |
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of the department who is not placed with a relative caregiver or |
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designated caregiver as defined by Section 264.751. The court |
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shall make a finding as to whether the department is able to place |
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the child with a relative or other designated caregiver and state |
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the evidence that supports its finding. |
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SECTION 2. Section 263.002, Family Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 263.002. REVIEW OF PLACEMENTS BY COURT; FINDINGS. (a) |
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In a suit affecting the parent-child relationship in which the |
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department has been appointed by the court or designated in an |
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affidavit of relinquishment of parental rights as the temporary or |
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permanent managing conservator of a child, the court shall hold a |
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hearing to review: |
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(1) the conservatorship appointment and substitute |
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care; and |
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(2) for a child committed to the Texas Juvenile |
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Justice Department, the child's commitment in the Texas Juvenile |
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Justice Department or release under supervision by the Texas |
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Juvenile Justice Department. |
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(b) At each hearing under this chapter, the court shall |
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review the placement of each child in the temporary or permanent |
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managing conservatorship of the department who is not placed with a |
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relative caregiver or designated caregiver as defined by Section |
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264.751. The court shall make a finding as to whether the |
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department is able to place the child with a relative or other |
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designated caregiver and state the evidence that supports its |
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finding. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply to a |
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suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. A suit affecting the parent-child |
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relationship filed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the suit was filed, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |