H.B. No. 843
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to persons entitled to notice of and to participation in
  certain hearings regarding a child in the conservatorship of the
  state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 263.301(b), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  The following persons are entitled to at least 10 days'
  notice of a permanency hearing and are entitled to present evidence
  and be heard at the hearing:
               (1)  the department;
               (2)  the foster parent, preadoptive parent, relative of
  the child providing care, or director of the group home or
  institution where the child is residing;
               (3)  each parent of the child;
               (4)  the managing conservator or guardian of the child;
               (5)  an attorney ad litem appointed for the child under
  Chapter 107;
               (6)  a volunteer advocate appointed for the child under
  Chapter 107; [and]
               (7)  the child if:
                     (A)  the child is 10 years of age or older; or
                     (B)  the court determines it is appropriate for
  the child to receive notice; and
               (8)  any other person or agency named by the court to
  have an interest in the child's welfare.
         SECTION 2.  Section 263.501(d), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (d)  The following are entitled to not less than 10 days'
  notice of a placement review hearing and are entitled to present
  evidence and be heard at the hearing:
               (1)  the department;
               (2)  the foster parent, preadoptive parent, relative of
  the child providing care, or director of the group home or
  institution in which the child is residing;
               (3)  each parent of the child;
               (4)  each possessory conservator or guardian of the
  child;
               (5)  the child's attorney ad litem and volunteer
  advocate, if the appointments were not dismissed in the final
  order; [and]
               (6)  the child if:
                     (A)  the child is 10 years of age or older; or
                     (B)  the court determines it is appropriate for
  the child to receive notice; and
               (7)  any other person or agency named by the court as
  having an interest in the child's welfare.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a hearing held on or after September 10, 2013. A hearing held
  before that date is governed by the law as it existed immediately
  before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in
  effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 843 was passed by the House on May 2,
  2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 843 was passed by the Senate on May
  20, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor