Court Opinion

ID: 9811342
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 22:17:50.995048+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:12:45.151177
License: Public Domain

SUE WALKER, Justice,
dissenting on rehearing.
I respectfully dissent. Chapter 263 of the Texas Family Code sets forth several provisions the Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS) may invoke to maintain temporary conservatorship of a child beyond subsection 263.401(a)’s one-year period and thereby avoid dismissal of its termination suit. See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 263.403(a)(l)-(4) (Vernon 2002). DFPS did not utilize these provisions. Instead, DFPS chose to abandon and to immediately refile its suit seeking termination of M.N.G.’s mother’s parental rights, obtaining temporary conservator-ship of M.N.G. in the refiled suit based on the same facts pleaded to initially remove M.N.G. from her mother. Because DFPS alleged no new grounds supporting its second — although really continuous — removal of M.N.G. from her mother and its *541second — although really continuous — appointment as temporary managing conservator of M.N.G., the trial court was required to dismiss this termination suit. See Tex. Fam.Code ANN. § 263.401(a); In re T.M., 83 S.W.3d 341, 348 (Tex.App.Amarillo 2000, pet. filed); In re Ruiz, 16 S.W.3d 921, 927-28 (Tex.App.-Waco 2000, no pet.). Accordingly, I would sustain Appellant’s first issue and reverse the trial court’s judgment.