reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
TX Fam Code § 107.159 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle A - General Provisions|Chapter 107 - Special Appointments, Child Custody Evaluations, and Adoption Evaluations|Subchapter E. Adoption Evaluation|Section 107.159. Requirements for Pre-Placement Portion of Adoption Evaluation and Report

Sec. 107.159.  REQUIREMENTS FOR PRE-PLACEMENT PORTION OF ADOPTION EVALUATION AND REPORT.  (a)  Unless otherwise agreed to by the court, the pre-placement part of an adoption evaluation must comply with the minimum requirements for the pre-placement part of an adoption evaluation under rules adopted by the commissioner of the department.(b)  Unless a child who is the subject of the suit begins to reside in a prospective adoptive home before the suit is commenced, an adoption evaluator shall file with the court a report containing the evaluator's findings and conclusions made after completion of the pre-placement portion of the adoption evaluation.(c)  In a suit filed after the date a child who is the subject of the suit begins to reside in a prospective adoptive home, the report required under this section and the post-placement adoption evaluation report required under Section 107.160 may be combined in a single report.(d)  The report required under this section must be filed with the court before the court may sign the final order for termination of the parent-child relationship. The report shall be included in the record of the suit.(e)  A copy of the report prepared under this section must be made available to the prospective adoptive parents before the court renders a final order of adoption.|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1252 (H.B. 1449), Sec. 1.18, eff. September 1, 2015.Amended by: Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 316 (H.B. 5), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2017.|
TX Fam Code § 107.160 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle A - General Provisions|Chapter 107 - Special Appointments, Child Custody Evaluations, and Adoption Evaluations|Subchapter E. Adoption Evaluation|Section 107.160. Requirements for Post-Placement Portion of Adoption Evaluation and Report

Sec. 107.160.  REQUIREMENTS FOR POST-PLACEMENT PORTION OF ADOPTION EVALUATION AND REPORT.  (a)  Unless otherwise agreed to by the court, the post-placement part of an adoption evaluation must comply with the minimum requirements for the post-placement part of an adoption evaluation under rules adopted by the commissioner of the department.(b)  An adoption evaluator shall file with the court a report containing the evaluator's findings and conclusions made after a child who is the subject of the suit in which the evaluation is ordered begins to reside in a prospective adoptive home.(c)  The report required under this section must be filed with the court before the court renders a final order of adoption. The report shall be included in the record of the suit.(d)  A copy of the report prepared under this section must be made available to the prospective adoptive parents before the court renders a final order of adoption.|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1252 (H.B. 1449), Sec. 1.18, eff. September 1, 2015.Amended by: Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 316 (H.B. 5), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2017.|
TX Fam Code § 107.161 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle A - General Provisions|Chapter 107 - Special Appointments, Child Custody Evaluations, and Adoption Evaluations|Subchapter E. Adoption Evaluation|Section 107.161. Introduction and Provision of Adoption Evaluation Report and Testimony Relating to Adoption Evaluation

Sec. 107.161.  INTRODUCTION AND PROVISION OF ADOPTION EVALUATION REPORT AND TESTIMONY RELATING TO ADOPTION EVALUATION.  (a)  Disclosure to the jury of the contents of an adoption evaluation report prepared under Section 107.159 or 107.160 is subject to the rules of evidence.(b)  The court may compel the attendance of witnesses necessary for the proper disposition of a suit, including a representative of an agency that conducts an adoption evaluation, who may be compelled to testify.|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1252 (H.B. 1449), Sec. 1.18, eff. September 1, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 107.162 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle A - General Provisions|Chapter 107 - Special Appointments, Child Custody Evaluations, and Adoption Evaluations|Subchapter E. Adoption Evaluation|Section 107.162. Adoption Evaluation Fee

Sec. 107.162.  ADOPTION EVALUATION FEE.  If the court orders an adoption evaluation to be conducted, the court shall award the adoption evaluator a reasonable fee for the preparation of the evaluation that shall be imposed in the form of a money judgment and paid directly to the evaluator. The evaluator may enforce the judgment for the fee by any means available under law for civil judgments.|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1252 (H.B. 1449), Sec. 1.18, eff. September 1, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 107.163 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle A - General Provisions|Chapter 107 - Special Appointments, Child Custody Evaluations, and Adoption Evaluations|Subchapter E. Adoption Evaluation|Section 107.163. Adoption Evaluator Access to Investigative Records of Department; Offense

Sec. 107.163.  ADOPTION EVALUATOR ACCESS TO INVESTIGATIVE RECORDS OF DEPARTMENT; OFFENSE.  (a)  An adoption evaluator is entitled to obtain from the department a complete, unredacted copy of any investigative record regarding abuse or neglect that relates to any person residing in the residence subject to the adoption evaluation.(b)  Except as provided by this section, records obtained by an adoption evaluator from the department under this section are confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code, or to disclosure in response to a subpoena or a discovery request.(c)  An adoption evaluator may disclose information obtained under Subsection (a) in the adoption evaluation report prepared under Section 107.159 or 107.160 only to the extent the evaluator determines that the information is relevant to the adoption evaluation or a recommendation made under this subchapter.(d)  A person commits an offense if the person recklessly discloses confidential information obtained from the department in violation of this section.  An offense under this subsection is a Class A misdemeanor.|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1252 (H.B. 1449), Sec. 1.18, eff. September 1, 2015.|Subchapter F, consisting of Secs. 107.201 to 107.202, was added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1252 (H.B. 1449), Sec. 1.18.For another Subchapter F, consisting of Secs. 107.101 to 107.108, added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 571 (H.B. 3003), Sec. 1, see Sec. 107.101 et seq., post.
TX Fam Code § 107.201 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle A - General Provisions|Chapter 107 - Special Appointments, Child Custody Evaluations, and Adoption Evaluations|Subchapter F. Evaluations in Contested Adoptions|Section 107.201. Applicability

Sec. 107.201.  APPLICABILITY.  This subchapter does not apply to services provided in accordance with the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children adopted under Subchapter B, Chapter 162, to an evaluation conducted in accordance with Section 262.114 by an employee of or contractor with the department, or to a suit in which the Department of Family and Protective Services is a party.|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1252 (H.B. 1449), Sec. 1.18, eff. September 1, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 107.202 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle A - General Provisions|Chapter 107 - Special Appointments, Child Custody Evaluations, and Adoption Evaluations|Subchapter F. Evaluations in Contested Adoptions|Section 107.202. Assignment of Evaluations in Contested Adoptions

Sec. 107.202.  ASSIGNMENT OF EVALUATIONS IN CONTESTED ADOPTIONS.  (a)  In a suit in which the adoption of a child is being contested, the court shall determine the nature of the questions posed before appointing an evaluator to conduct either a child custody evaluation or an adoption evaluation.(b)  If the court is attempting to determine whether termination of parental rights is in the best interest of a child who is the subject of the suit, the court shall order the evaluation as a child custody evaluation under Subchapter D and include termination as one of the specific issues to be addressed in the evaluation.(c)  When appointing an evaluator to assess the issue of termination of parental rights, the court may, through written order, modify the requirements of the child custody evaluation to take into account the circumstances of the family to be assessed.  The court may also appoint the evaluator to concurrently address the requirements for an adoption evaluation under Subchapter E if the evaluator recommends that termination of parental rights is in the best interest of the child who is the subject of the suit.(d)  If the court is attempting to determine whether the parties seeking adoption would be suitable to adopt the child who is the subject of the suit if the termination of parental rights is granted, but the court is not attempting to determine whether such termination of parental rights is in the child's best interest, the court may order the evaluation as an adoption evaluation under Subchapter E.|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1252 (H.B. 1449), Sec. 1.18, eff. September 1, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 107.251 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle A - General Provisions|Chapter 107 - Special Appointments, Child Custody Evaluations, and Adoption Evaluations|Subchapter G. Office of Child Representation and Office of Parent Representation|Section 107.251. Definition

Sec. 107.251.  DEFINITION.  In this subchapter, "governmental entity" includes a county, a group of counties, a department of a county, an administrative judicial region created by Section 74.042, Government Code, and any entity created under the Interlocal Cooperation Act as permitted by Chapter 791, Government Code.|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 571 (H.B. 3003), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.Redesignated from Family Code, Section 107.061 by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 24.001(6), eff. September 1, 2017.|
TX Fam Code § 107.252 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle A - General Provisions|Chapter 107 - Special Appointments, Child Custody Evaluations, and Adoption Evaluations|Subchapter G. Office of Child Representation and Office of Parent Representation|Section 107.252. Applicability

Sec. 107.252.  APPLICABILITY.  This subchapter applies to a suit filed by a governmental entity seeking termination of the parent-child relationship or the appointment of a conservator for a child in which appointment of an attorney is required under Section 107.012 or 107.013.|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 571 (H.B. 3003), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.Redesignated from Family Code, Section 107.062 by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 24.001(6), eff. September 1, 2017.|
TX Fam Code § 107.253 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle A - General Provisions|Chapter 107 - Special Appointments, Child Custody Evaluations, and Adoption Evaluations|Subchapter G. Office of Child Representation and Office of Parent Representation|Section 107.253. Nonprofit Funding

Sec. 107.253.  NONPROFIT FUNDING.  This subchapter does not limit or prevent a nonprofit corporation from receiving and using money obtained from other entities to provide legal representation and services as authorized by this subchapter.|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 571 (H.B. 3003), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.Redesignated from Family Code, Section 107.063 by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 24.001(6), eff. September 1, 2017.|
TX Fam Code § 107.254 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle A - General Provisions|Chapter 107 - Special Appointments, Child Custody Evaluations, and Adoption Evaluations|Subchapter G. Office of Child Representation and Office of Parent Representation|Section 107.254. Office of Child Representation

Sec. 107.254.  OFFICE OF CHILD REPRESENTATION.  An office of child representation is an entity that uses public money to provide legal representation and services for a child in a suit filed by a governmental entity seeking termination of the parent-child relationship or the appointment of a conservator for the child in which appointment is mandatory for a child under Section 107.012.|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 571 (H.B. 3003), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.Redesignated from Family Code, Section 107.064 by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 24.001(6), eff. September 1, 2017.|
TX Fam Code § 107.255 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle A - General Provisions|Chapter 107 - Special Appointments, Child Custody Evaluations, and Adoption Evaluations|Subchapter G. Office of Child Representation and Office of Parent Representation|Section 107.255. Office of Parent Representation

Sec. 107.255.  OFFICE OF PARENT REPRESENTATION.  An office of parent representation is an entity that uses public money to provide legal representation and services for a parent in a suit filed by a governmental entity seeking termination of the parent-child relationship or the appointment of a conservator for a child in which appointment is mandatory for a parent under Section 107.013.|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 571 (H.B. 3003), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.Redesignated from Family Code, Section 107.065 by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 24.001(6), eff. September 1, 2017.|
TX Fam Code § 107.256 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle A - General Provisions|Chapter 107 - Special Appointments, Child Custody Evaluations, and Adoption Evaluations|Subchapter G. Office of Child Representation and Office of Parent Representation|Section 107.256. Creation of Office of Child Representation or Office of Parent Representation

Sec. 107.256.  CREATION OF OFFICE OF CHILD REPRESENTATION OR OFFICE OF PARENT REPRESENTATION.  (a)  An office described by Section 107.254 or 107.255 may be a governmental entity or a nonprofit corporation operating under a written agreement with a governmental entity, other than an individual judge or court.(b)  The commissioners court of any county, on written approval of a judge of a statutory county court or a district court having family law jurisdiction in the county, may create an office of child representation, an office of parent representation, or both offices by establishing a department of the county or designating under a contract a nonprofit corporation to perform the duties of an office.(c)  The commissioners courts of two or more counties may enter into a written agreement to jointly create and jointly fund a regional office of child representation, a regional office of parent representation, or both regional offices. (d)  In creating an office of child representation or office of parent representation under this section, the commissioners court shall specify or the commissioners courts shall jointly specify, as applicable:(1)  the duties of the office;(2)  the types of cases to which the office may be appointed under this chapter and the courts in which an attorney employed by the office may be required to appear;(3)  if the office is a nonprofit corporation, the term during which the contract designating the  office is effective and how that contract may be renewed on expiration of the term; and(4)  if an oversight board is established under Section 107.262 for the office, the powers and duties that have been delegated to the oversight board.|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 571 (H.B. 3003), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.Redesignated from Family Code, Section 107.066 by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 24.001(6), eff. September 1, 2017.Amended by: Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 24.002(2), eff. September 1, 2017.|
TX Fam Code § 107.257 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle A - General Provisions|Chapter 107 - Special Appointments, Child Custody Evaluations, and Adoption Evaluations|Subchapter G. Office of Child Representation and Office of Parent Representation|Section 107.257. Nonprofit as Office

Sec. 107.257. NONPROFIT AS OFFICE.  (a)  Before contracting with a nonprofit corporation to serve as an office of child representation or office of parent representation, the commissioners court or commissioners courts, as applicable, must solicit proposals for the office.(b)  After considering each proposal for an office of child representation or office of parent representation submitted by a nonprofit corporation, the commissioners court or commissioners courts, as applicable, shall select a proposal that reasonably demonstrates that the office will provide adequate quality representation for children for whom appointed counsel is required under Section 107.012 or for parents for whom appointed counsel is required under Section 107.013, as applicable.(c)  The total cost of the proposal may not be the sole consideration in selecting a proposal.|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 571 (H.B. 3003), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.Redesignated from Family Code, Section 107.067 by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 24.001(6), eff. September 1, 2017.|
TX Fam Code § 107.258 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle A - General Provisions|Chapter 107 - Special Appointments, Child Custody Evaluations, and Adoption Evaluations|Subchapter G. Office of Child Representation and Office of Parent Representation|Section 107.258. Plan of Operation for Office

Sec. 107.258.  PLAN OF OPERATION FOR OFFICE.  The applicable commissioners court or commissioners courts shall require a written plan of operation from an entity serving as an office of child representation or office of parent representation. The plan must include:(1)  a budget for the office, including salaries;(2)  a description of each personnel position, including the chief counsel position;(3)  the maximum allowable caseloads for each attorney employed by the office;(4)  provisions for training personnel and attorneys employed by the office;(5)  a description of anticipated overhead costs for the office;(6)  policies regarding the use of licensed investigators and expert witnesses by the office; and(7)  a policy to ensure that the chief of the office and other attorneys employed by the office do not provide representation to a child, a parent, or an alleged father, as applicable, if doing so would create a conflict of interest.|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 571 (H.B. 3003), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.Redesignated from Family Code, Section 107.068 by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 24.001(6).|
TX Fam Code § 107.259 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle A - General Provisions|Chapter 107 - Special Appointments, Child Custody Evaluations, and Adoption Evaluations|Subchapter G. Office of Child Representation and Office of Parent Representation|Section 107.259. Office Personnel

Sec. 107.259.  OFFICE PERSONNEL.  (a)  An office of child representation or office of parent representation must be directed by a chief counsel who:(1)  is a member of the State Bar of Texas;(2)  has practiced law for at least three years; and(3)  has substantial experience in the practice of child welfare law.(b)  An office of child representation or office of parent representation may employ attorneys, licensed investigators, licensed social workers, and other personnel necessary to perform the duties of the office as specified by the commissioners court or commissioners courts.(c)  An attorney for the office of child representation or office of parent representation must comply with any applicable continuing education and training requirements of Sections 107.004 and 107.0131 before accepting representation.(d)  Except as authorized by this chapter, the chief counsel and other attorneys employed by an office of child representation or office of parent representation may not:(1)  engage in the private practice of child welfare law; or(2)  accept anything of value not authorized by this chapter for services rendered under this chapter.(e)  A judge may remove from a case a person who violates Subsection (d).|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 571 (H.B. 3003), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.Redesignated from Family Code, Section 107.069 by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 24.001(6), eff. September 1, 2017.|