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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain placements for children in the conservatorship |
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of the Department of Family and Protective Services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 264, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 264.020 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 264.020. PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN IN CONSERVATORSHIP OF |
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DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES. (a) In this section, |
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"child" means a person who: |
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(1) is younger than 22 years of age and for whom the |
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department has been appointed managing conservator of the child |
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before the child's 18th birthday; or |
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(2) is the responsibility of an agency with which the |
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department has entered into an agreement to provide care and |
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supervision of the child. |
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(b) In making a placement decision for a child, the |
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department shall give preference to persons in the following order: |
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(1) a person related to the child by blood, marriage, |
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or adoption; |
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(2) a person with whom the child has a long-standing |
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and significant relationship; |
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(3) a foster home; and |
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(4) a general residential operation. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |