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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the individuals to whom notice and information must be |
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provided after the Department of Family and Protective Services or |
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another agency takes possession of a child. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 262.109(d), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(d) The written notice may be waived by the court at the |
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initial hearing: |
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(1) on a showing that: |
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(A) the parents, conservators, or other |
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custodians of the child could not be located; or |
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(B) the department took possession of the child |
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under Subchapter D; [or] |
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(2) if the court finds that the alleged father |
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committed the offense of trafficking of persons as defined by |
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Article 56B.003, Code of Criminal Procedure, against the mother of |
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the child; or |
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(3) for other good cause. |
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SECTION 2. Section 262.1095(c), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) The department is not required to provide information to |
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an individual if: |
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(1) the individual has received service of citation |
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under Section 102.009; [or if] |
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(2) the department determines providing information |
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is inappropriate because the individual has a criminal history or a |
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history of family violence; or |
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(3) the department is aware or believes that the |
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alleged father committed the offense of trafficking of persons as |
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defined by Article 56B.003, Code of Criminal Procedure, against the |
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mother of the child. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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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 the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date |
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of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |