Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3245 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	87R11556 MCK-D
2	2	By: Dutton H.B. No. 3245
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to eliminating the court appointed advocates.
8	8	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	9	SECTION 1. Section 29.0151(e), Education Code, is amended
10	10	to read as follows:
11	11	(e) The district may appoint a person who has been appointed
12	12	to serve as a child's guardian ad litem [or as a court-certified
13	13	volunteer advocate, as provided under Section 107.031(c), Family
14	14	Code,] as the child's surrogate parent.
15	15	SECTION 2. Section 107.001(5), Family Code, is amended to
16	16	read as follows:
17	17	(5) "Guardian ad litem" means a person appointed to
18	18	represent the best interests of a child. The term includes:
19	19	(A) [a volunteer advocate from a charitable
20	20	organization described by Subchapter C who is appointed by the
21	21	court as the child's guardian ad litem;
22	22	[(B)] a professional, other than an attorney, who
23	23	holds a relevant professional license and whose training relates to
24	24	the determination of a child's best interests;
25	25	(B) [(C)] an adult having the competence,
26	26	training, and expertise determined by the court to be sufficient to
27	27	represent the best interests of the child; or
28	28	(C) [(D)] an attorney ad litem appointed to serve
29	29	in the dual role.
30	30	SECTION 3. Section 107.011(b), Family Code, is amended to
31	31	read as follows:
32	32	(b) The guardian ad litem appointed for a child under this
33	33	section may be:
34	34	(1) [a charitable organization composed of volunteer
35	35	advocates or an individual volunteer advocate appointed under
36	36	Subchapter C;
37	37	[(2)] an adult having the competence, training, and
38	38	expertise determined by the court to be sufficient to represent the
39	39	best interests of the child; or
40	40	(2) [(3)] an attorney appointed in the dual role.
41	41	SECTION 4. Section 107.022, Family Code, is amended to read
42	42	as follows:
43	43	Sec. 107.022. CERTAIN PROHIBITED APPOINTMENTS. In a suit
44	44	other than a suit filed by a governmental entity requesting
45	45	termination of the parent-child relationship or appointment of the
46	46	entity as conservator of the child, the court may not appoint[:
47	47	[(1)] an attorney to serve in the dual role[; or
48	48	[(2) a volunteer advocate to serve as guardian ad
49	49	litem for a child unless the training of the volunteer advocate is
50	50	designed for participation in suits other than suits filed by a
51	51	governmental entity requesting termination of the parent-child
52	52	relationship or appointment of the entity as conservator of the
53	53	child].
54	54	SECTION 5. Section 107.023(a), Family Code, is amended to
55	55	read as follows:
56	56	(a) In a suit other than a suit filed by a governmental
57	57	entity requesting termination of the parent-child relationship or
58	58	appointment of the entity as conservator of the child, in addition
59	59	to the attorney's fees that may be awarded under Chapter 106, the
60	60	following persons are entitled to reasonable fees and expenses in
61	61	an amount set by the court and ordered to be paid by one or more
62	62	parties to the suit:
63	63	(1) an attorney appointed as an amicus attorney or as
64	64	an attorney ad litem for the child; and
65	65	(2) a professional who holds a relevant professional
66	66	license and who is appointed as guardian ad litem for the child[,
67	67	other than a volunteer advocate].
68	68	SECTION 6. Section 202.002(a), Family Code, is amended to
69	69	read as follows:
70	70	(a) A friend of the court may coordinate nonjudicial efforts
71	71	to improve compliance with a court order relating to child support
72	72	or possession of or access to a child by use of:
73	73	(1) telephone communication;
74	74	(2) written communication;
75	75	(3) [one or more volunteer advocates under Chapter
76	76	107;
77	77	[(4)] informal pretrial consultation;
78	78	(4) [(5)] one or more of the alternate dispute
79	79	resolution methods under Chapter 154, Civil Practice and Remedies
80	80	Code;
81	81	(5) [(6)] a licensed social worker;
82	82	(6) [(7)] a family mediator; and
83	83	(7) [(8)] employment agencies, retraining programs,
84	84	and any similar resources to ensure that both parents can meet their
85	85	financial obligations to the child.
86	86	SECTION 7. Section 263.0021(b), Family Code, is amended to
87	87	read as follows:
88	88	(b) The following persons are entitled to at least 10 days'
89	89	notice of a hearing under this chapter and are entitled to present
90	90	evidence and be heard at the hearing:
91	91	(1) the department;
92	92	(2) the foster parent, preadoptive parent, relative of
93	93	the child providing care, or director or director's designee of the
94	94	group home or general residential operation where the child is
95	95	residing;
96	96	(3) each parent of the child;
97	97	(4) the managing conservator or guardian of the child;
98	98	(5) an attorney ad litem appointed for the child under
99	99	Chapter 107, if the appointment was not dismissed in the final
100	100	order;
101	101	(6) a guardian ad litem appointed for the child under
102	102	Chapter 107, if the appointment was not dismissed in the final
103	103	order;
104	104	(7) [a volunteer advocate appointed for the child
105	105	under Chapter 107, if the appointment was not dismissed in the final
106	106	order;
107	107	[(8)] the child if:
108	108	(A) the child is 10 years of age or older; or
109	109	(B) the court determines it is appropriate for
110	110	the child to receive notice; and
111	111	(8) [(9)] any other person or agency named by the
112	112	court to have an interest in the child's welfare.
113	113	SECTION 8. Section 263.0025(e), Family Code, is amended to
114	114	read as follows:
115	115	(e) The court may appoint a child's guardian ad litem [or
116	116	court-certified volunteer advocate, as provided by Section
117	117	107.031(c),] as the child's surrogate parent.
118	118	SECTION 9. Section 263.008(b), Family Code, is amended to
119	119	read as follows:
120	120	(b) It is the policy of this state that each child in foster
121	121	care be informed of the child's rights provided by state or federal
122	122	law or policy that relate to:
123	123	(1) abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination, and
124	124	harassment;
125	125	(2) food, clothing, shelter, and education;
126	126	(3) medical, dental, vision, and mental health
127	127	services, including the right of the child to consent to treatment;
128	128	(4) emergency behavioral intervention, including what
129	129	methods are permitted, the conditions under which it may be used,
130	130	and the precautions that must be taken when administering it;
131	131	(5) placement with the child's siblings and contact
132	132	with members of the child's family;
133	133	(6) privacy and searches, including the use of storage
134	134	space, mail, and the telephone;
135	135	(7) participation in school-related extracurricular
136	136	or community activities;
137	137	(8) interaction with persons outside the foster care
138	138	system, including teachers, church members, mentors, and friends;
139	139	(9) contact and communication with caseworkers,
140	140	attorneys ad litem, and guardians ad litem[, and court-appointed
141	141	special advocates];
142	142	(10) religious services and activities;
143	143	(11) confidentiality of the child's records;
144	144	(12) job skills, personal finances, and preparation
145	145	for adulthood;
146	146	(13) participation in a court hearing that involves
147	147	the child;
148	148	(14) participation in the development of service and
149	149	treatment plans;
150	150	(15) if the child has a disability, the advocacy and
151	151	protection of the rights of a person with that disability; and
152	152	(16) any other matter affecting the child's ability to
153	153	receive care and treatment in the least restrictive environment
154	154	that is most like a family setting, consistent with the best
155	155	interests and needs of the child.
156	156	SECTION 10. Section 263.303(a), Family Code, is amended to
157	157	read as follows:
158	158	(a) Not later than the 10th day before the date set for each
159	159	permanency hearing before a final order is rendered, the department
160	160	shall file with the court and provide to each party, the child's
161	161	attorney ad litem, and the child's guardian ad litem[, and the
162	162	child's volunteer advocate] a permanency progress report unless the
163	163	court orders a different period for providing the report.
164	164	SECTION 11. Section 263.602(d), Family Code, is amended to
165	165	read as follows:
166	166	(d) Notice of an extended foster care review hearing shall
167	167	be given as provided by Rule 21a, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, to
168	168	the following persons, each of whom has a right to present evidence
169	169	and be heard at the hearing:
170	170	(1) the young adult who is the subject of the suit;
171	171	(2) the department;
172	172	(3) the foster parent with whom the young adult is
173	173	placed and the administrator of a child-placing agency responsible
174	174	for placing the young adult, if applicable;
175	175	(4) the director of the residential child-care
176	176	facility or other approved provider with whom the young adult is
177	177	placed, if applicable;
178	178	(5) each parent of the young adult whose parental
179	179	rights have not been terminated and who is still actively involved
180	180	in the life of the young adult;
181	181	(6) a legal guardian of the young adult, if
182	182	applicable; and
183	183	(7) the young adult's attorney ad litem and[,]
184	184	guardian ad litem[, and volunteer advocate], the appointment of
185	185	which has not been previously dismissed by the court.
186	186	SECTION 12. Section 263.605, Family Code, is amended to
187	187	read as follows:
188	188	Sec. 263.605. CONTINUED OR RENEWED APPOINTMENT OF ATTORNEY
189	189	AD LITEM, GUARDIAN AD LITEM, OR VOLUNTEER ADVOCATE. A court with
190	190	extended jurisdiction under this subchapter may continue or renew
191	191	the appointment of an attorney ad litem or[,] guardian ad litem[, or
192	192	volunteer advocate] for the young adult to assist the young adult in
193	193	accessing services the young adult is entitled to receive from the
194	194	department or any other public or private service provider.
195	195	SECTION 13. Section 264.015(c), Family Code, is amended to
196	196	read as follows:
197	197	(c) To the extent that resources are available, the
198	198	department shall assist the following entities in developing
199	199	training in trauma-informed programs and services and in locating
200	200	money and other resources to assist the entities in providing
201	201	trauma-informed programs and services:
202	202	(1) [court-appointed special advocate programs;
203	203	[(2)] children's advocacy centers;
204	204	(2) [(3)] local community mental health centers
205	205	created under Section 534.001, Health and Safety Code; and
206	206	(3) [(4)] domestic violence shelters.
207	207	SECTION 14. Sections 264.018(e) and (f), Family Code, are
208	208	amended to read as follows:
209	209	(e) Not later than 48 hours before the department changes
210	210	the residential child-care facility of a child in the managing
211	211	conservatorship of the department, the department shall provide
212	212	notice of the change to:
213	213	(1) the child's parent;
214	214	(2) an attorney ad litem appointed for the child under
215	215	Chapter 107;
216	216	(3) a guardian ad litem appointed for the child under
217	217	Chapter 107; and
218	218	(4) [a volunteer advocate appointed for the child
219	219	under Chapter 107; and
220	220	[(5)] the licensed administrator of the child-placing
221	221	agency responsible for placing the child or the licensed
222	222	administrator's designee.
223	223	(f) Except as provided by Subsection (d-1), as soon as
224	224	possible but not later than the 10th day after the date the
225	225	department becomes aware of a significant event affecting a child
226	226	in the conservatorship of the department, the department shall
227	227	provide notice of the significant event to:
228	228	(1) the child's parent;
229	229	(2) an attorney ad litem appointed for the child under
230	230	Chapter 107;
231	231	(3) a guardian ad litem appointed for the child under
232	232	Chapter 107;
233	233	(4) [a volunteer advocate appointed for the child
234	234	under Chapter 107;
235	235	[(5)] the licensed administrator of the child-placing
236	236	agency responsible for placing the child or the licensed
237	237	administrator's designee;
238	238	(5) [(6)] a foster parent, prospective adoptive
239	239	parent, relative of the child providing care to the child, or
240	240	director of the group home or general residential operation where
241	241	the child is residing; and
242	242	(6) [(7)] any other person determined by a court to
243	243	have an interest in the child's welfare.
244	244	SECTION 15. Section 264.107(e), Family Code, is amended to
245	245	read as follows:
246	246	(e) In making placement decisions, the department shall:
247	247	(1) except when making an emergency placement that
248	248	does not allow time for the required consultations, consult with
249	249	the child's caseworker, attorney ad litem, and guardian ad litem
250	250	[and with any court-appointed volunteer advocate for the child];
251	251	and
252	252	(2) use clinical protocols to match a child to the most
253	253	appropriate placement resource.
254	254	SECTION 16. Section 264.1213, Family Code, is amended to
255	255	read as follows:
256	256	Sec. 264.1213. RECORDS AND DOCUMENTS FOR CHILDREN AGING OUT
257	257	OF FOSTER CARE. The department in cooperation with [volunteer
258	258	advocates from a charitable organization described by Subchapter C,
259	259	Chapter 107, and] the Department of Public Safety shall develop
260	260	procedures to ensure that a foster child obtains a driver's license
261	261	or personal identification card before the child leaves the
262	262	conservatorship of the department.
263	263	SECTION 17. Section 264.1261(b), Family Code, as added by
264	264	Chapter 319 (S.B. 11), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular
265	265	Session, 2017, is amended to read as follows:
266	266	(b) Appropriate department management personnel from a
267	267	child protective services region in which community-based care has
268	268	not been implemented, in collaboration with foster care providers
269	269	and[,] faith-based entities[, and child advocates] in that region,
270	270	shall use data collected by the department on foster care capacity
271	271	needs and availability of each type of foster care and kinship
272	272	placement in the region to create a plan to address the substitute
273	273	care capacity needs in the region. The plan must identify both
274	274	short-term and long-term goals and strategies for addressing those
275	275	capacity needs.
276	276	SECTION 18. Section 264.155, Family Code, is amended to
277	277	read as follows:
278	278	Sec. 264.155. REQUIRED CONTRACT PROVISIONS. A contract
279	279	with a single source continuum contractor to provide
280	280	community-based care services in a catchment area must include
281	281	provisions that:
282	282	(1) establish a timeline for the implementation of
283	283	community-based care in the catchment area, including a timeline
284	284	for implementing:
285	285	(A) case management services for children,
286	286	families, and relative and kinship caregivers receiving services in
287	287	the catchment area; and
288	288	(B) family reunification support services to be
289	289	provided after a child receiving services from the contractor is
290	290	returned to the child's family;
291	291	(2) establish conditions for the single source
292	292	continuum contractor's access to relevant department data and
293	293	require the participation of the contractor in the data access and
294	294	standards governance council created under Section 264.159;
295	295	(3) require the single source continuum contractor to
296	296	create a single process for the training and use of alternative
297	297	caregivers for all child-placing agencies in the catchment area to
298	298	facilitate reciprocity of licenses for alternative caregivers
299	299	between agencies, including respite and overnight care providers,
300	300	as those terms are defined by department rule;
301	301	(4) require the single source continuum contractor to
302	302	maintain a diverse network of service providers that offer a range
303	303	of foster capacity options and that can accommodate children from
304	304	diverse cultural backgrounds;
305	305	(5) allow the department to conduct a performance
306	306	review of the contractor beginning 18 months after the contractor
307	307	has begun providing case management and family reunification
308	308	support services to all children and families in the catchment area
309	309	and determine if the contractor has achieved any performance
310	310	outcomes specified in the contract;
311	311	(6) following the review under Subdivision (5), allow
312	312	the department to:
313	313	(A) impose financial penalties on the contractor
314	314	for failing to meet any specified performance outcomes; or
315	315	(B) award financial incentives to the contractor
316	316	for exceeding any specified performance outcomes;
317	317	(7) require the contractor to give preference for
318	318	employment to employees of the department:
319	319	(A) whose position at the department is impacted
320	320	by the implementation of community-based care; and
321	321	(B) who are considered by the department to be
322	322	employees in good standing;
323	323	(8) require the contractor to provide preliminary and
324	324	ongoing community engagement plans to ensure communication and
325	325	collaboration with local stakeholders in the catchment area,
326	326	including any of the following:
327	327	(A) community faith-based entities;
328	328	(B) the judiciary;
329	329	(C) [court-appointed special advocates;
330	330	[(D)] child advocacy centers;
331	331	(D) [(E)] service providers;
332	332	(E) [(F)] foster families;
333	333	(F) [(G)] biological parents;
334	334	(G) [(H)] foster youth and former foster youth;
335	335	(H) [(I)] relative or kinship caregivers;
336	336	(I) [(J)] child welfare boards, if applicable;
337	337	(J) [(K)] attorneys ad litem;
338	338	(K) [(L)] attorneys that represent parents
339	339	involved in suits filed by the department; and
340	340	(L) [(M)] any other stakeholders, as determined
341	341	by the contractor; and
342	342	(9) require that the contractor comply with any
343	343	applicable court order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction
344	344	in the case of a child for whom the contractor has assumed case
345	345	management responsibilities or an order imposing a requirement on
346	346	the department that relates to functions assumed by the contractor.
347	347	SECTION 19. Section 264.408(a), Family Code, is amended to
348	348	read as follows:
349	349	(a) The files, reports, records, communications, and
350	350	working papers used or developed in providing services under this
351	351	chapter are confidential and not subject to public release under
352	352	Chapter 552, Government Code, and may only be disclosed for
353	353	purposes consistent with this chapter. Disclosure may be made to:
354	354	(1) the department, department employees, law
355	355	enforcement agencies, prosecuting attorneys, medical
356	356	professionals, and other state or local agencies that provide
357	357	services to children and families; and
358	358	(2) the attorney for the alleged victim who is the
359	359	subject of the records [and a court-appointed volunteer advocate
360	360	appointed for the alleged victim under Section 107.031].
361	361	SECTION 20. Section 36.003, Government Code, is amended to
362	362	read as follows:
363	363	Sec. 36.003. EXEMPTION. The reporting requirements of
364	364	Section 36.004 do not apply to:
365	365	(1) a mediation conducted by an alternative dispute
366	366	resolution system established under Chapter 152, Civil Practice and
367	367	Remedies Code;
368	368	(2) information made confidential under state or
369	369	federal law, including applicable rules;
370	370	(3) a guardian ad litem [or other person appointed
371	371	under a program authorized by Section 107.031, Family Code];
372	372	(4) an attorney ad litem, guardian ad litem, amicus
373	373	attorney, or mediator appointed under a domestic relations office
374	374	established under Chapter 203, Family Code;
375	375	(5) an attorney ad litem, guardian ad litem, amicus
376	376	attorney, or mediator providing services without expectation or
377	377	receipt of compensation; or
378	378	(6) an attorney ad litem, guardian ad litem, amicus
379	379	attorney, or mediator providing services as a volunteer of a
380	380	nonprofit organization that provides pro bono legal services to the
381	381	indigent.
382	382	SECTION 21. Section 37.002, Government Code, is amended to
383	383	read as follows:
384	384	Sec. 37.002. EXEMPTION. The appointment requirements of
385	385	Section 37.004 do not apply to:
386	386	(1) a mediation conducted by an alternative dispute
387	387	resolution system established under Chapter 152, Civil Practice and
388	388	Remedies Code;
389	389	(2) a guardian ad litem [or other person appointed
390	390	under a program authorized by Section 107.031, Family Code];
391	391	(3) an attorney ad litem, guardian ad litem, amicus
392	392	attorney, or mediator appointed under a domestic relations office
393	393	established under Chapter 203, Family Code;
394	394	(4) a person other than an attorney or a private
395	395	professional guardian appointed to serve as a guardian as defined
396	396	by Section 1002.012, Estates Code;
397	397	(5) an attorney ad litem, guardian ad litem, amicus
398	398	attorney, or mediator providing services without expectation or
399	399	receipt of compensation; or
400	400	(6) an attorney ad litem, guardian ad litem, amicus
401	401	attorney, or mediator providing services as a volunteer of a
402	402	nonprofit organization that provides pro bono legal services to the
403	403	indigent.
404	404	SECTION 22. Section 497.012(b), Government Code, is amended
405	405	to read as follows:
406	406	(b) If the department determines that it is economically
407	407	feasible, the department shall repair or refurbish the surplus or
408	408	salvage data processing equipment. The department shall sell the
409	409	repaired or refurbished data processing equipment, in the following
410	410	order of preference, to:
411	411	(1) a school district;
412	412	(2) a state agency; or
413	413	(3) a political subdivision of the state[; or
414	414	[(4) a statewide organization described by Section
415	415	264.603(a), Family Code, or a local volunteer advocate program, as
416	416	defined by Section 264.601, Family Code, for use by children or
417	417	youth in foster care].
418	418	SECTION 23. Section 40.021(b), Human Resources Code, is
419	419	amended to read as follows:
420	420	(b) The council is composed of nine members of the public
421	421	appointed by the governor. In making appointments to the council,
422	422	the governor shall consider persons who have a demonstrated
423	423	knowledge of the department and the health and human services
424	424	system in general, including former department employees,
425	425	[court-appointed special advocates,] foster care providers, and
426	426	employees of child advocacy centers.
427	427	SECTION 24. Section 244.0105(a), Human Resources Code, is
428	428	amended to read as follows:
429	429	(a) Not later than the 10th day before the date of a
430	430	permanency hearing under Subchapter D, Chapter 263, Family Code, or
431	431	Subchapter F, Chapter 263, Family Code, regarding a child for whom
432	432	the Department of Family and Protective Services has been appointed
433	433	managing conservator, a department caseworker shall submit a
434	434	written report regarding the child's commitment to the department
435	435	to:
436	436	(1) the court;
437	437	(2) the Department of Family and Protective Services;
438	438	and
439	439	(3) any attorney ad litem or guardian ad litem
440	440	appointed for the child[; and
441	441	[(4) any volunteer advocate appointed for the child].
442	442	SECTION 25. Section 244.0106(c), Human Resources Code, is
443	443	amended to read as follows:
444	444	(c) The rules adopted under this section must require:
445	445	(1) the Department of Family and Protective Services
446	446	to:
447	447	(A) provide the department with access to
448	448	relevant health and education information regarding a child; and
449	449	(B) require a child's caseworker to visit the
450	450	child in person at least once each month while the child is
451	451	committed to the department;
452	452	(2) the department to:
453	453	(A) provide the Department of Family and
454	454	Protective Services with relevant health and education information
455	455	regarding a child;
456	456	(B) permit communication, including in person,
457	457	by telephone, and by mail, between a child committed to the
458	458	department and:
459	459	(i) the Department of Family and Protective
460	460	Services; and
461	461	(ii) the attorney ad litem and[,] the
462	462	guardian ad litem[, and the volunteer advocate] for the child; and
463	463	(C) provide the Department of Family and
464	464	Protective Services and any attorney ad litem or guardian ad litem
465	465	for the child with timely notice of the following events relating to
466	466	the child:
467	467	(i) a meeting designed to develop or revise
468	468	the individual case plan for the child;
469	469	(ii) in accordance with any participation
470	470	protocols to which the Department of Family and Protective Services
471	471	and the department agree, a medical appointment at which a person
472	472	authorized to consent to medical care must participate as required
473	473	by Section 266.004(i), Family Code;
474	474	(iii) an education meeting, including
475	475	admission, review, or dismissal meetings for a child receiving
476	476	special education;
477	477	(iv) a grievance or disciplinary hearing
478	478	for the child;
479	479	(v) a report of abuse or neglect of the
480	480	child; and
481	481	(vi) a significant change in medical
482	482	condition of the child, as defined by Section 264.018, Family Code;
483	483	and
484	484	(3) the Department of Family and Protective Services
485	485	and the department to participate in transition planning for the
486	486	child through release from detention, release under supervision,
487	487	and discharge.
488	488	SECTION 26. Section 244.052(c), Human Resources Code, is
489	489	amended to read as follows:
490	490	(c) The department shall on a quarterly basis provide to the
491	491	parent or[,] guardian[, or designated advocate] of a child who is in
492	492	the custody of the department a report concerning the progress of
493	493	the child at the department, including:
494	494	(1) the academic and behavioral progress of the child;
495	495	and
496	496	(2) the results of any reexamination of the child
497	497	conducted under Section 244.002.
498	498	SECTION 27. Section 245.103(d), Human Resources Code, is
499	499	amended to read as follows:
500	500	(d) The department shall provide a report to the parent
501	501	or[,] guardian[, or designated advocate] of a child whose length of
502	502	stay is extended under Section 245.102 explaining the panel's
503	503	reason for the extension.
504	504	SECTION 28. Section 245.104(b), Human Resources Code, is
505	505	amended to read as follows:
506	506	(b) The process to request reconsideration must provide
507	507	that:
508	508	(1) a child, a parent or[,] guardian[, or designated
509	509	advocate] of a child, an employee of the department, or a person who
510	510	provides volunteer services at a department facility may submit a
511	511	request for reconsideration of an extension order;
512	512	(2) the person submitting the request for
513	513	reconsideration of an extension order must state in the request the
514	514	reason for the request;
515	515	(3) after receiving a request for reconsideration of
516	516	an extension order, the panel shall reconsider an extension order
517	517	that:
518	518	(A) extends the child's stay in the custody of
519	519	the department by six months or more; or
520	520	(B) combined with previous extension orders will
521	521	result in an extension of the child's stay in the custody of the
522	522	department by six months or more;
523	523	(4) the panel's reconsideration of an extension order
524	524	includes consideration of the information submitted in the request;
525	525	and
526	526	(5) the panel shall send a written reply to the child,
527	527	the parent or[,] guardian[, or designated advocate] of the child,
528	528	and the person who made the request for reconsideration of an
529	529	extension order that includes an explanation of the panel's
530	530	decision after reconsidering the extension order, including an
531	531	indication that the panel has considered the information submitted
532	532	in the request.
533	533	SECTION 29. The following provisions are repealed:
534	534	(1) Subchapter C, Chapter 107, Family Code;
535	535	(2) Section 264.1261(b), Family Code, as added by
536	536	Chapter 822 (H.B. 1549), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular
537	537	Session, 2017;
538	538	(3) Subchapter G, Chapter 264, Family Code; and
539	539	(4) Section 504.611, Transportation Code.
540	540	SECTION 30. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.