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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to mandatory family violence training for attorneys ad |
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litem and guardians ad litem appointed in a suit affecting the |
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parent-child relationship. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 107, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 107.0041 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 107.0041. MANDATORY FAMILY VIOLENCE TRAINING. (a) As |
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soon as practicable after appointment, a guardian ad litem or |
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attorney ad litem appointed for a child in a suit affecting the |
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parent-child relationship shall complete at least three hours of |
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family violence training approved by the Department of Family and |
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Protective Services. |
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(b) The Department of Family and Protective Services shall |
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collaborate with a statewide family violence advocacy organization |
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to develop the training required under Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 2. Section 107.0045, Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 107.0045. DISCIPLINE OF ATTORNEY AD LITEM. An |
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attorney ad litem who fails to perform the duties required by |
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Sections 107.003, [and] 107.004, and 107.0041 is subject to |
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disciplinary action under Subchapter E, Chapter 81, Government |
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Code. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed on or after |
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the effective date of this Act. A suit affecting the parent-child |
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relationship filed before that date is governed by the law in effect |
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on the date the suit was filed, and that law is continued in effect |
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for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |