TITLE: Relating to confirming the provision of certain notices before the full adversary hearing in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services.

SUMMARY: Relating to confirming the provision of certain notices before the full adversary hearing in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to confirming the provision of certain notices before the full adversary hearing in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 262, Family Code, is amended by adding Section 262.2011 to read as follows: Sec. 262.2011. CONFIRMATION OF REQUIRED NOTICE PROVIDED. Before commencement of the full adversary hearing, the court shall, in writing and in open court, confirm with an alleged perpetrator that: (1) before interviewing the alleged perpetrator, the Department of Family and Protective Services informed the person of the person's right to: (A) create an audio or video recording of the interview under Section 261.3027; and (B) request an administrative review of the Department of Family and Protective Services' findings under Section 261.3091; and (2) when the Department of Family and Protective Services first contacted the alleged perpetrator after initiating an investigation of a parent or other person having legal custody of a child, the department provided the person with the information required by Section 261.307. SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship that is filed on or after the effective date of this Act. A suit filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date that the suit is filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.