| 1 | 1 | | 89R17876 TYPED |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Johnson H.B. No. 4805 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | relating to prohibiting the dismissal of certain suits affecting |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | the parent-child relationship involving the Department of Family |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | and Protective Services. |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 263, Family Code, is |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | amended by adding Section 263.4012 to read as follows: |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | Sec. 263.4012. PROHIBITING DISMISSAL WHEN CHILD IS MISSING. |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | Notwithstanding Section 263.401, the court shall retain |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | jurisdiction and may not dismiss the suit as required by that |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | section if the court finds the child is missing from the child's |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | substitute care provider. |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | SECTION 2. Section 263.501(g), Family Code, is amended to |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | read as follows: |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | (g) Unless the child is adopted or permanent managing |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | conservatorship of the child is awarded to an individual other than |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | the department, a [A] court required to conduct permanency hearings |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | for a child for whom the department has been appointed permanent |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | managing conservator may not dismiss a suit affecting the |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | parent-child relationship filed by the department regarding the |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | child while the child is: |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | (1) committed to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | or released under the supervision of the Texas Juvenile Justice |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | Department; or |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | (2) missing from the child's substitute care |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | provider[, unless the child is adopted or permanent managing |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | conservatorship of the child is awarded to an individual other than |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | the department]. |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
|---|