By: Dutton H.B. No. 3281

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to procedures and grounds for termination of the parent-child relationship.

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

SECTION 1. Section 154.001(a-1), Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a-1) The court may order each person who is financially able and whose parental rights have been terminated with respect to a child in substitute care for whom the department has been appointed managing conservator, a child for a reason described by Section 161.001(b)(1)(P)(iv) [161.001(b)(1)(T)(iv)] or (b)(1)(Q) [(b)(1)(U)], or a child who was conceived as a direct result of conduct that constitutes an offense under Section 21.02, 22.011, 22.021, or 25.02, Penal Code, to support the child in the manner specified by the order:

(1) until the earliest of:

(A) the child's adoption;

(B) the child's 18th birthday or graduation from high school, whichever occurs later;

(C) removal of the child's disabilities of minority by court order, marriage, or other operation of law; or

(D) the child's death; or

(2) if the child is disabled as defined in this chapter, for an indefinite period.

SECTION 2. Sections 161.001(b), (c), (f), and (g), Family Code, are amended to read as follows:

(b) The court may order termination of the parent-child relationship if the court finds beyond a reasonable doubt [by clear and convincing evidence]:

(1) that the parent has:

(A) voluntarily left the child alone or in the possession of another not the parent and expressed an intent not to return;

(B) voluntarily left the child alone or in the possession of another not the parent without expressing an intent to return, without providing for the adequate support of the child, and remained away for a period of at least three months;

(C) voluntarily left the child alone or in the possession of another without providing adequate support of the child and remained away for a period of at least six months;

(D) knowingly placed or knowingly allowed the child to remain in conditions or surroundings that placed [which endanger the physical or emotional well-being of] the child in immediate danger that resulted in serious bodily injury or physical or mental impairment;

(E) engaged in conduct or knowingly placed the child with persons who engaged in conduct that placed [which endangers the physical or emotional well-being of] the child in immediate danger that resulted in serious bodily injury or physical or mental impairment;

(F) failed to support the child in accordance with the parent's ability during a period of one year ending within six months of the date of the filing of the petition;

(G) abandoned the child without identifying the child or furnishing means of identification, and the child's identity cannot be ascertained by the exercise of reasonable diligence;

(H) voluntarily, and with knowledge of the pregnancy, abandoned the mother of the child beginning at a time during her pregnancy with the child and continuing through the birth, failed to provide adequate support or medical care for the mother during the period of abandonment before the birth of the child, and remained apart from the child or failed to support the child since the birth;

(I) contumaciously refused to submit to a reasonable and lawful order of a court under Subchapter D, Chapter 261;

(J) [been the major cause of:

[(i) the failure of the child to be enrolled in school as required by the Education Code; or

[(ii) the child's absence from the child's home without the consent of the parents or guardian for a substantial length of time or without the intent to return;

[(K)] executed before or after the suit is filed an unrevoked or irrevocable affidavit of relinquishment of parental rights as provided by this chapter;

(K) [(L)] been convicted or has been placed on community supervision, including deferred adjudication community supervision, for being criminally responsible for the death or serious injury of a child under the following sections of the Penal Code, or under a law of another jurisdiction that contains elements that are substantially similar to the elements of an offense under one of the following Penal Code sections, or adjudicated under Title 3 for conduct that caused the death or serious injury of a child and that would constitute a violation of one of the following Penal Code sections:

(i) Section 19.02 (murder);

(ii) Section 19.03 (capital murder);

(iii) Section 19.04 (manslaughter);

(iv) Section 21.11 (indecency with a child);

(v) Section 22.01 (assault);

(vi) Section 22.011 (sexual assault);

(vii) Section 22.02 (aggravated assault);

(viii) Section 22.021 (aggravated sexual assault);

(ix) Section 22.04 (injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual);

(x) Section 22.041 (abandoning or endangering a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual);

(xi) Section 25.02 (prohibited sexual conduct);

(xii) Section 43.25 (sexual performance by a child);

(xiii) Section 43.26 (possession or promotion of child pornography);

(xiv) Section 21.02 (continuous sexual abuse of young child or disabled individual);

(xv) Section 20A.02(a)(7) or (8) (trafficking of persons); and

(xvi) Section 43.05(a)(2) (compelling prostitution);

[(M) had his or her parent-child relationship terminated with respect to another child based on a finding that the parent's conduct was in violation of Paragraph (D) or (E) or substantially equivalent provisions of the law of another state;

[(N) constructively abandoned the child who has been in the permanent or temporary managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services for not less than six months, and:

[(i) the department has made reasonable efforts to return the child to the parent;

[(ii) the parent has not regularly visited or maintained significant contact with the child; and

[(iii) the parent has demonstrated an inability to provide the child with a safe environment;

[(O) failed to comply with the provisions of a court order that specifically established the actions necessary for the parent to obtain the return of the child who has been in the permanent or temporary managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services for not less than nine months as a result of the child's removal from the parent under Chapter 262 for the abuse or neglect of the child;]

(L) [(P)] used a controlled substance, as defined by Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, in a manner that placed [endangered the health or safety of] the child in immediate danger that resulted in serious bodily injury or physical or mental impairment, and:

(i) failed to complete a court-ordered substance abuse treatment program; or

(ii) after completion of a court-ordered substance abuse treatment program, continued to abuse a controlled substance;

(M) [(Q)] knowingly engaged in criminal conduct that has resulted in the parent's:

(i) conviction of an offense; and

(ii) confinement or imprisonment and inability to care for the child for not less than two years from the date of filing the petition;

(N) [(R)] been the cause of the child being born addicted to alcohol or a controlled substance, other than a controlled substance legally obtained by prescription;

(O) [(S)] voluntarily delivered the child to a designated emergency infant care provider under Section 262.302 without expressing an intent to return for the child;

(P) [(T)] been convicted of:

(i) the murder of the other parent of the child under Section 19.02 or 19.03, Penal Code, or under a law of another state, federal law, the law of a foreign country, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice that contains elements that are substantially similar to the elements of an offense under Section 19.02 or 19.03, Penal Code;

(ii) criminal attempt under Section 15.01, Penal Code, or under a law of another state, federal law, the law of a foreign country, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice that contains elements that are substantially similar to the elements of an offense under Section 15.01, Penal Code, to commit the offense described by Subparagraph (i);

(iii) criminal solicitation under Section 15.03, Penal Code, or under a law of another state, federal law, the law of a foreign country, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice that contains elements that are substantially similar to the elements of an offense under Section 15.03, Penal Code, of the offense described by Subparagraph (i); or

(iv) the sexual assault of the other parent of the child under Section 22.011 or 22.021, Penal Code, or under a law of another state, federal law, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice that contains elements that are substantially similar to the elements of an offense under Section 22.011 or 22.021, Penal Code;

(Q) [(U)] been placed on community supervision, including deferred adjudication community supervision, or another functionally equivalent form of community supervision or probation, for being criminally responsible for the sexual assault of the other parent of the child under Section 22.011 or 22.021, Penal Code, or under a law of another state, federal law, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice that contains elements that are substantially similar to the elements of an offense under Section 22.011 or 22.021, Penal Code; or

(R) [(V)] been convicted of:

(i) criminal solicitation of a minor under Section 15.031, Penal Code, or under a law of another state, federal law, the law of a foreign country, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice that contains elements that are substantially similar to the elements of an offense under Section 15.031, Penal Code; or

(ii) online solicitation of a minor under Section 33.021, Penal Code, or under a law of another state, federal law, the law of a foreign country, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice that contains elements that are substantially similar to the elements of an offense under Section 33.021, Penal Code; and

(2) that termination is in the best interest of the child.

(c) Evidence of one or more of the following does not provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt and is not [constitute clear and convincing evidence] sufficient for a court to make a finding under Subsection (b) and order termination of the parent-child relationship:

(1) the parent homeschooled the child;

(2) the parent is economically disadvantaged;

(3) the parent has been charged with a nonviolent misdemeanor offense other than:

(A) an offense under Title 5, Penal Code;

(B) an offense under Title 6, Penal Code; or

(C) an offense that involves family violence, as defined by Section 71.004 of this code;

(4) the parent provided or administered low-THC cannabis to a child for whom the low-THC cannabis was prescribed under Chapter 169, Occupations Code;

(5) the parent declined immunization for the child for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief;

(6) the parent sought an opinion from more than one medical provider relating to the child's medical care, transferred the child's medical care to a new medical provider, or transferred the child to another health care facility; or

(7) the parent allowed the child to engage in independent activities that are appropriate and typical for the child's level of maturity, physical condition, developmental abilities, or culture.

(f) In a suit for termination of the parent-child relationship filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services, the court may not order termination of the parent-child relationship under Subsection (b)(1) unless the court finds proof beyond a reasonable doubt [by clear and convincing evidence] and describes in writing with specificity in a separate section of the order that:

(1) the department made reasonable efforts to return the child to the parent before commencement of a trial on the merits and despite those reasonable efforts, a continuing danger remains in the home that prevents the return of the child to the parent; or

(2) reasonable efforts to return the child to the parent, including the requirement for the department to provide a family service plan to the parent, have been waived under Section 262.2015.

(g) In a suit for termination of the parent-child relationship filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services in which the department made reasonable efforts to return the child to the child's home but a continuing danger in the home prevented the child's return, the court shall include in a separate section of its order written findings describing with specificity:

(1) the reasonable efforts the department made to return the child to the child's home; and

(2) the continuing danger that remains in the home that prevents the return of the child to the parent.

SECTION 3. Section 161.007(a), Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), the court shall order the termination of the parent-child relationship of a parent and a child if the court finds proof beyond a reasonable doubt [by clear and convincing evidence] that:

(1) the parent has engaged in conduct that constitutes an offense under Section 21.02, 22.011, 22.021, or 25.02, Penal Code;

(2) as a direct result of the conduct described by Subdivision (1), the victim of the conduct became pregnant with the parent's child; and

(3) termination is in the best interest of the child.

SECTION 4. Sections 161.206(a) and (a-1), Family Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) If the court finds proof beyond a reasonable doubt of [by clear and convincing evidence] grounds for termination of the parent-child relationship, it shall render an order terminating the parent-child relationship.

(a-1) In a suit filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services seeking termination of the parent-child relationship for more than one parent of the child, the court may order termination of the parent-child relationship for the parent only if the court finds proof beyond a reasonable doubt of [by clear and convincing evidence] grounds for the termination of the parent-child relationship for that parent.

SECTION 5. Section 161.302(a), Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The following persons may file a petition under this subchapter requesting the court to reinstate the parental rights of a former parent whose parental rights were involuntarily terminated under Section 161.001 [or 161.003]:

(1) the department;

(2) the single source continuum contractor under Subchapter B-1, Chapter 264, with responsibility for the child who is the subject of the petition;

(3) the attorney ad litem for the child who is the subject of the petition; or

(4) the former parent whose parental rights were involuntarily terminated.

SECTION 6. The following provisions of the Family Code are repealed:

(1) Sections 161.001(d) and (d-1);

(2) Section 161.003; and

(3) Section 264.101(b).

SECTION 7. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship that is filed on or after the effective date of this Act. A suit filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the suit is filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.