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