87R12087 MLH-D
By: White H.B. No. 3647
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to placing a child in the possessory conservatorship of
the child's parents in certain situations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 263, Family Code, is
amended by adding Section 263.504 to read as follows:
Sec. 263.504. RETURNING CHILD TO PARENT. (a) At each
placement review hearing after the second anniversary of the date
the court rendered the final order naming the department or another
person as the child's managing conservator without terminating
parental rights, the department shall review the child's placement
to determine whether the child could be returned to the child's
parent if the parent was named possessory conservator for the child
in the final order.
(b) The department may recommend reunification with the
child's parent if the department finds:
(1) the parent of the child has remedied the condition
or conditions that led to removal of the child;
(2) the parent of the child is willing and able to care
for the child;
(3) the best interest of the child will be served by
placing the child with the child's parent;
(4) the child's preference is to reside with the
child's parent; and
(5) the child does not have other options for
permanency.
(c) The court may return the child to the child's parent if
the court finds it is in the best interest of the child.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a
placement review hearing held on or after the effective date of this
Act regardless of the date on which the Department of Family and
Protective Services is named the child's managing conservator.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.