88R20541 BDP-F
 
  By: Campos H.B. No. 1499
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1499:
 
  By:  Dutton C.S.H.B. No. 1499
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the duties of court-appointed guardians ad litem,
  attorneys ad litem, and amicus attorneys in certain suits affecting
  the parent-child relationship.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 107.002(b), (b-1), and (i), Family
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  A guardian ad litem appointed for the child under this
  chapter shall:
               (1)  not later than the seventh business day [within a
  reasonable time] after the date of the appointment, interview:
                     (A)  the child in a developmentally appropriate
  manner, if the child is three [four] years of age or older;
                     (B)  the child's caregiver or the administrator of
  the licensed child-placing agency that placed the child [each
  person who has significant knowledge of the child's history and
  condition, including educators, child welfare service providers,
  and any foster parent of the child]; and
                     (C)  the parties to the suit;
               (2)  not later than the 15th business day after the date
  of the appointment, interview each person who has significant
  knowledge of the child's history and condition, including
  educators, child welfare service providers, and any foster parent
  of the child;
               (3)  seek to elicit in a developmentally appropriate
  manner the child's expressed objectives;
               (4) [(3)]  consider the child's expressed objectives
  without being bound by those objectives;
               (5) [(4)]  encourage settlement and the use of
  alternative forms of dispute resolution; and
               (6) [(5)]  perform any specific task directed by the
  court.
         (b-1)  In addition to the duties required by Subsection (b),
  a guardian ad litem appointed for a child in a proceeding under
  Chapter 262 or 263 shall:
               (1)  review the medical care provided to the child;
               (2)  in a developmentally appropriate manner, seek to
  elicit the child's opinion on the medical care provided;
               (3)  for a child at least 17 [16] years of age,
  ascertain whether the child has received the following documents:
                     (A)  a certified copy of the child's birth
  certificate;
                     (B)  a social security card or a replacement
  social security card;
                     (C)  a driver's license or personal
  identification certificate under Chapter 521, Transportation Code;
  and
                     (D)  any other personal document the Department of
  Family and Protective Services or single source continuum
  contractor determines appropriate; and
               (4)  for a child at least 13 years of age, ascertain
  whether the child has received a personal identification
  certificate under Chapter 521, Transportation Code [seek to elicit
  in a developmentally appropriate manner the name of any adult,
  particularly an adult residing in the child's community, who could
  be a relative or designated caregiver for the child and immediately
  provide the names of those individuals to the Department of Family
  and Protective Services].
         (i)  A guardian ad litem appointed to represent a child in
  the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and
  Protective Services shall, at least 72 hours before each scheduled
  hearing under Chapter 263, determine whether the child's
  educational needs and goals have been identified and addressed.
         SECTION 2.  Section 107.003, Family Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 107.003.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF ATTORNEY AD LITEM FOR
  CHILD AND AMICUS ATTORNEY.  (a)  An attorney ad litem appointed to
  represent a child or an amicus attorney appointed to assist the
  court:
               (1)  shall:
                     (A)  subject to Rules 4.02, 4.03, and 4.04, Texas
  Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, and not later than the
  seventh business day [within a reasonable time] after the date of
  the appointment, interview:
                           (i)  the child in a developmentally
  appropriate manner, if the child is three [four] years of age or
  older;
                           (ii)  the child's caregiver or the
  administrator of the licensed child-placing agency that placed the
  child [each person who has significant knowledge of the child's
  history and condition, including any foster parent of the child];
  and
                           (iii)  the parties to the suit;
                     (B)  not later than the 15th business day after
  the date of the appointment, interview each person who has
  significant knowledge of the child's history and condition,
  including educators, child welfare service providers, and any
  foster parent of the child;
                     (C)  seek to elicit in a developmentally
  appropriate manner the child's expressed objectives of
  representation;
                     (D) [(C)]  consider the impact on the child in
  formulating the attorney's presentation of the child's expressed
  objectives of representation to the court;
                     (E) [(D)]  investigate the facts of the case to
  the extent the attorney considers appropriate;
                     (F) [(E)]  obtain and review copies of relevant
  records relating to the child as provided by Section 107.006;
                     (G) [(F)]  participate in the conduct of the
  litigation to the same extent as an attorney for a party;
                     (H) [(G)]  take any action consistent with the
  child's interests that the attorney considers necessary to expedite
  the proceedings;
                     (I) [(H)]  encourage settlement and the use of
  alternative forms of dispute resolution; and
                     (J) [(I)]  review and sign, or decline to sign, a
  proposed or agreed order affecting the child;
               (2)  must be trained in child advocacy or have
  experience determined by the court to be equivalent to that
  training; and
               (3)  is entitled to:
                     (A)  request clarification from the court if the
  role of the attorney is ambiguous;
                     (B)  request a hearing or trial on the merits;
                     (C)  consent or refuse to consent to an interview
  of the child by another attorney;
                     (D)  receive a copy of each pleading or other
  paper filed with the court;
                     (E)  receive notice of each hearing in the suit;
                     (F)  participate in any case staffing concerning
  the child conducted by the Department of Family and Protective
  Services or a single source continuum contractor; and
                     (G)  attend all legal proceedings in the suit.
         (b)  In addition to the duties required by Subsection (a), an
  attorney ad litem appointed for a child in a proceeding under
  Chapter 262, 263, or 264 shall:
               (1)  review the medical care provided to the child;
               (2)  in a developmentally appropriate manner, seek to
  elicit the child's opinion on the medical care provided;
               (3)  for a child at least 17 [16] years of age:
                     (A)  advise the child of the child's right to
  request the court to authorize the child to consent to the child's
  own medical care under Section 266.010; and
                     (B)  ascertain whether the child has received the
  following documents:
                           (i)  a certified copy of the child's birth
  certificate;
                           (ii)  a social security card or a
  replacement social security card;
                           (iii)  a driver's license or personal
  identification certificate under Chapter 521, Transportation Code;
  and
                           (iv)  any other personal document the
  Department of Family and Protective Services or a single source
  continuum contractor determines appropriate; and
               (4)  for a child at least 13 years of age, ascertain
  whether the child has received a personal identification
  certificate under Chapter 521, Transportation Code [seek to elicit
  in a developmentally appropriate manner the name of any adult,
  particularly an adult residing in the child's community, who could
  be a relative or designated caregiver for the child and immediately
  provide the names of those individuals to the Department of Family
  and Protective Services].
         SECTION 3.  Sections 107.004(d-1), (d-2), and (d-3), Family
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (d-1)  A meeting required by Subsection (d) must take place:
               (1)  at least 72 hours [a sufficient time] before the
  hearing to allow the attorney ad litem to prepare for the hearing in
  accordance with the child's expressed objectives of
  representation; and
               (2)  in a private setting that allows for confidential
  communications between the attorney ad litem and the child or
  individual with whom the child ordinarily resides, as applicable.
         (d-2)  An attorney ad litem appointed to represent a child in
  the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and
  Protective Services or a child who is the subject of a proceeding
  under Chapter 264 shall, at least 72 hours before each scheduled
  hearing under Chapter 263 or 264, determine whether the child's
  educational needs and goals have been identified and addressed.
         (d-3)  An attorney ad litem appointed to represent a child in
  the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and
  Protective Services or a child who is the subject of a proceeding
  under Chapter 264 shall, at least once each month, [periodically
  continue to] review the child's safety and well-being, including
  any effects of trauma to the child, and take appropriate action,
  including requesting a review hearing when necessary to address an
  issue of concern.
         SECTION 4.  Section 107.008, Family Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 107.008.  SUBSTITUTED JUDGMENT OF ATTORNEY FOR CHILD.
  (a) An attorney ad litem appointed to represent a child or an
  attorney appointed in the dual role may determine that the child
  cannot meaningfully formulate the child's objectives of
  representation in a case because the child has an intellectual or
  developmental disability that causes the child to be incapable of:
               (1)  forming [lacks sufficient maturity to understand
  and form] an attorney-client relationship with the attorney;
               (2)  making reasonable judgments [despite appropriate
  legal counseling, continues to express objectives of
  representation that would be seriously injurious to the child]; or
               (3)  [for any other reason is incapable of making
  reasonable judgments and] engaging in meaningful communication.
         (b)  An attorney ad litem or an attorney appointed in the
  dual role who determines that the child because of medical or
  developmental reasons cannot meaningfully formulate the child's
  expressed objectives of representation may present to the court a
  position that the attorney determines will serve the best interests
  of the child.
         (c)  If a guardian ad litem has been appointed for the child
  in a suit filed by a governmental entity requesting termination of
  the parent-child relationship or appointment of the entity as
  conservator of the child, an attorney ad litem who determines that
  the child cannot meaningfully formulate the child's expressed
  objectives of representation:
               (1)  shall consult with the guardian ad litem and[,
  without being bound by the guardian ad litem's opinion or
  recommendation,] ensure that the guardian ad litem's opinion and
  basis for any recommendation regarding the best interests of the
  child are presented to the court; and
               (2)  may present to the court a position that the
  attorney determines will serve the best interests of the child.
         SECTION 5.  Section 107.011(a), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, in a
  suit filed by a governmental entity seeking termination of the
  parent-child relationship or the appointment of a conservator for a
  child, the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the
  best interests of the child immediately after the filing of the
  petition but not later than 72 hours before the full adversary
  hearing.
         SECTION 6.  Section 107.012, Family Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 107.012.  MANDATORY APPOINTMENT OF ATTORNEY AD LITEM
  FOR CHILD. In a suit filed by a governmental entity requesting
  termination of the parent-child relationship or to be named
  conservator of a child, the court shall appoint an attorney ad litem
  to represent the interests of the child immediately after the
  filing, but not later than 72 hours before the full adversary
  hearing, to ensure adequate representation of the child.
         SECTION 7.  Section 107.0131(a), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  An attorney ad litem appointed under Section 107.013 to
  represent the interests of a parent:
               (1)  shall:
                     (A)  subject to Rules 4.02, 4.03, and 4.04, Texas
  Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, and not later than the
  seventh business day [within a reasonable time] after the date of
  the appointment, interview:
                           (i)  the parent, unless the parent's
  location is unknown;
                           (ii)  each person who has significant
  knowledge of the case; and
                           (iii)  the parties to the suit;
                     (B)  investigate the facts of the case;
                     (C)  to ensure competent representation at
  hearings, mediations, pretrial matters, and the trial on the
  merits:
                           (i)  obtain and review copies of all court
  files in the suit during the attorney ad litem's course of
  representation; and
                           (ii)  when necessary, conduct formal
  discovery under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure or the discovery
  control plan;
                     (D)  take any action consistent with the parent's
  interests that the attorney ad litem considers necessary to
  expedite the proceedings;
                     (E)  encourage settlement and the use of
  alternative forms of dispute resolution;
                     (F)  review and sign, or decline to sign, a
  proposed or agreed order affecting the parent;
                     (G)  meet with the parent at least 72 hours before
  each court hearing [with the parent], unless the court:
                           (i)  finds at that hearing that the attorney
  ad litem has shown good cause why the attorney ad litem's compliance
  is not feasible; or
                           (ii)  on a showing of good cause, authorizes
  the attorney ad litem to comply by conferring with the parent, as
  appropriate, by telephone or video conference;
                     (H)  abide by the parent's objectives for
  representation;
                     (I)  become familiar with the American Bar
  Association's standards of practice for attorneys who represent
  parents in abuse and neglect cases; and
                     (J)  complete at least three hours of continuing
  legal education relating to representing parents in child
  protection cases as described by Subsection (b) as soon as
  practicable after the attorney ad litem is appointed, unless the
  court finds that the attorney ad litem has experience equivalent to
  that education; and
               (2)  is entitled to:
                     (A)  request clarification from the court if the
  role of the attorney ad litem is ambiguous;
                     (B)  request a hearing or trial on the merits;
                     (C)  consent or refuse to consent to an interview
  of the parent by another attorney;
                     (D)  receive a copy of each pleading or other
  paper filed with the court;
                     (E)  receive notice of each hearing in the suit;
                     (F)  participate in any case staffing conducted by
  the Department of Family and Protective Services in which the
  parent is invited to participate, including, as appropriate, a case
  staffing to develop a family plan of service, a family group
  conference, a permanency conference, a mediation, a case staffing
  to plan for the discharge and return of the child to the parent, and
  any other case staffing that the department determines would be
  appropriate for the parent to attend, but excluding any internal
  department staffing or staffing between the department and the
  department's legal representative; and
                     (G)  attend all legal proceedings in the suit.
         SECTION 8.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed on or after
  the effective date of this Act. A suit affecting the parent-child
  relationship filed before that date is governed by the law in effect
  on the date the suit was filed, and that law is continued in effect
  for that purpose.
         SECTION 9.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.