Bill Text: TX HB596 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Bill 596 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to the duration of an appointment of a guardian ad litem or an attorney ad litem for a child in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-03 - Left pending in committee [HB596 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB596-Introduced.html



	By: Johnson of Harris	H.B. No. 596



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the duration of an appointment of a guardian ad litem or
	an attorney ad litem for a child in the conservatorship of the
	Department of Family and Protective Services.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 107.016, Family Code, is amended to read
	as follows:
	Sec. 107.016. CONTINUED REPRESENTATION; DURATION OF
	APPOINTMENT. In a suit filed by a governmental entity in which
	termination of the parent-child relationship or appointment of the
	entity as conservator of the child is requested:
	(1) an order appointing the Department of Family and
	Protective Services as the child's managing conservator shall [~~may~~]
	provide for the continuation of the appointment of the guardian ad
	litem or attorney ad litem for the child as long
	as the child
	remains in the conservatorship of the department [~~for any period~~
	~~set by the court~~]; and
	(2) an attorney appointed under this subchapter to
	serve as an attorney ad litem for a parent or an alleged father
	continues to serve in that capacity until the earliest of:
	(A) the date the suit affecting the parent-child
	relationship is dismissed;
	(B) the date all appeals in relation to any final
	order terminating parental rights are exhausted or waived; or
	(C) the date the attorney is relieved of the
	attorney's duties or replaced by another attorney after a finding
	of good cause is rendered by the court on the record.
	SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply to a
	suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed before, on, or
	after the effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.