S.B. No. 560
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to a plan and report on court-ordered representation for
  certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 71, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 71.0355 to read as follows:
         Sec. 71.0355.  PLAN AND REPORT ON COURT-ORDERED
  REPRESENTATION.  (a)  The council shall develop a statewide plan
  requiring counties and courts in this state to report information
  on court-ordered representation for appointments made in suits
  affecting the parent-child relationship under Part 1, Subchapter B,
  Chapter 107, Family Code.  In developing the plan, the council must
  consider the costs to counties of implementing the plan and design
  the plan to reduce redundant reporting.
         (b)  Not later than November 1 of each odd-numbered year and
  in the form and manner prescribed in the plan, each local
  administrative district judge for a court subject to the plan, or
  the person designated by the judge, shall prepare and provide to the
  council:
               (1)  a copy of all formal and informal rules and forms
  the court uses to appoint representation in suits affecting the
  parent-child relationship under Part 1, Subchapter B, Chapter 107,
  Family Code;
               (2)  any fee schedule the court uses for court-ordered
  representation; and
               (3)  information on whether the court is complying with
  Chapter 37, including the lists and the rotation system required by
  that chapter. 
         (c)  Each county auditor, or other individual designated by
  the commissioners court of a county, shall prepare and send to the
  council, in the form and manner prescribed in the plan, information
  on the money spent by the county during the preceding state fiscal
  year to provide court-ordered representation in suits affecting the
  parent-child relationship under Part 1, Subchapter B, Chapter 107,
  Family Code.  The information must include:
               (1)  the total amount of money spent by the county to
  provide court-ordered representation services; and
               (2)  of the money spent under Subdivision (1), the
  amount of money spent:
                     (A)  for appointments in each district court,
  county court, statutory county court, and appellate court in the
  county;
                     (B)  for appointments of private attorneys for
  respondents, including parents, children, and alleged fathers, who
  are indigent;
                     (C)  for appointments of public counsel for
  respondents, including parents, children, and alleged fathers, who
  are indigent; and
                     (D)  for investigation, expert witness, or other
  litigation expenses.
         (d)  Each local administrative district judge for a court
  subject to the plan, or the person designated by the judge, and each
  county auditor, or other individual designated by the commissioners
  court of a county, shall provide to the council the information
  required under the plan and this section.
         (e)  The council annually shall:
               (1)  compile in a report the information submitted to
  the council under the plan and this section;
               (2)  submit the report compiled under Subdivision (1)
  to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of
  representatives; and
               (3)  electronically publish the report compiled under
  Subdivision (1).
         SECTION 2.  (a)  As soon as practicable after the effective
  date of this Act, the Texas Judicial Council shall develop the plan
  required by Section 71.0355, Government Code, as added by this Act.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Section 71.0355, Government Code, as
  added by this Act, a county or court in this state is not required to
  comply with that section until September 1, 2020, or a later date
  provided in the plan developed under that section.
         SECTION 3.  The Texas Judicial Council is required to
  implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature
  appropriates money specifically for that purpose.  If the
  legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
  purpose, the council may, but is not required to, implement a
  provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 560 passed the Senate on
  April 30, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1; and that
  the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 24, 2019, by the
  following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 560 passed the House, with
  amendment, on May 22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 142,
  Nays 0, two present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor