88R14245 MLH-D

By: Gervin-Hawkins H.B. No. 3694

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a deadline for completing services under a family service plan.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 263.102, Family Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e-1) to read as follows:

(a) The service plan must:

(1) be specific;

(2) be in writing in a language that the parents understand, or made otherwise available;

(3) be prepared by the department in conference with the child's parents;

(4) state appropriate deadlines;

(5) specify the primary permanency goal and at least one alternative permanency goal;

(6) state steps that are necessary to:

(A) return the child to the child's home if the placement is in foster care;

(B) enable the child to remain in the child's home with the assistance of a service plan if the placement is in the home under the department's supervision; or

(C) otherwise provide a permanent safe placement for the child;

(7) state the actions and responsibilities that are necessary for the child's parents to take to achieve the plan goal during the period of the service plan and the assistance to be provided to the parents by the department or other agency toward meeting that goal;

(8) state any specific skills or knowledge that the child's parents must acquire or learn, as well as any behavioral changes the parents must exhibit, to achieve the plan goal;

(9) state the actions and responsibilities that are necessary for the child's parents to take to ensure that the child attends school and maintains or improves the child's academic compliance;

(10) state the name of the person with the department whom the child's parents may contact for information relating to the child if other than the person preparing the plan; [and]

(11) prescribe any other term or condition that the department determines to be necessary to the service plan's success; and

(12) describe any services the department will provide under Subsection (e).

(e-1) Services provided by the department under Subsection (e) must be concluded not later than the 15th business day before the dismissal date for the suit as provided by Subchapter E.

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to a service plan that is created on or after the effective date of this Act. A service plan that is created before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the service plan was created, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.