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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a deadline for completing services under a family |
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service plan. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 263.102, Family Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) The service plan must: |
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(1) be specific; |
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(2) be in writing in a language that the parents |
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understand, or made otherwise available; |
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(3) be prepared by the department in conference with |
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the child's parents; |
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(4) state appropriate deadlines; |
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(5) specify the primary permanency goal and at least |
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one alternative permanency goal; |
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(6) state steps that are necessary to: |
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(A) return the child to the child's home if the |
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placement is in foster care; |
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(B) enable the child to remain in the child's |
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home with the assistance of a service plan if the placement is in |
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the home under the department's supervision; or |
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(C) otherwise provide a permanent safe placement |
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for the child; |
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(7) state the actions and responsibilities that are |
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necessary for the child's parents to take to achieve the plan goal |
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during the period of the service plan and the assistance to be |
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provided to the parents by the department or other agency toward |
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meeting that goal; |
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(8) state any specific skills or knowledge that the |
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child's parents must acquire or learn, as well as any behavioral |
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changes the parents must exhibit, to achieve the plan goal; |
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(9) state the actions and responsibilities that are |
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necessary for the child's parents to take to ensure that the child |
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attends school and maintains or improves the child's academic |
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compliance; |
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(10) state the name of the person with the department |
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whom the child's parents may contact for information relating to |
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the child if other than the person preparing the plan; [and] |
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(11) prescribe any other term or condition that the |
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department determines to be necessary to the service plan's |
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success; and |
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(12) describe any services the department will provide |
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under Subsection (e). |
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(e-1) Services provided by the department under Subsection |
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(e) must be concluded not later than the 15th business day before |
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the dismissal date for the suit as provided by Subchapter E. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a service plan that is created on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. A service plan that is created before the effective date |
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of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the service |
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plan was created, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |