Sec. 263.306.  PERMANENCY HEARINGS BEFORE FINAL ORDER.
(a)  Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 7.009(c), eff. September 1, 2017.
(a-1)  At each permanency hearing before a final order is rendered, the court shall:
(1)  identify all persons and parties present at the hearing;
(2)  review the efforts of the department or other agency in:
(A)  locating and requesting service of citation on all persons entitled to service of citation under Section 102.009; and
(B)  obtaining the assistance of a parent in providing information necessary to locate an absent parent, alleged father, relative of the child, or other adult identified by the child as a potential relative or designated caregiver;
(3)  ask all parties present whether the child or the child's family has a Native American heritage and identify any Native American tribe with which the child may be associated;
(4)  review the extent of the parties' compliance with temporary orders and the service plan and the extent to which progress has been made toward alleviating or mitigating the causes necessitating the placement of the child in foster care;
(5)  review the permanency progress report to determine:
(A)  the safety and well-being of the child and whether the child's needs, including any medical or special needs, are being adequately addressed;
(B)  the continuing necessity and appropriateness of the placement of the child, including with respect to a child who has been placed outside of this state, whether the placement continues to be in the best interest of the child;
(C)  the appropriateness of the primary and alternative permanency goals for the child developed in accordance with department rule and whether the department has made reasonable efforts to finalize the permanency plan, including the concurrent permanency goals, in effect for the child;
(D)  whether the child has been provided the opportunity, in a developmentally appropriate manner, to express the child's opinion on any medical care provided;
(E)  whether the child has been provided the opportunity, in a developmentally appropriate manner, to identify any adults, particularly an adult residing in the child's community, who could be a relative or designated caregiver for the child;
(F)  for a child receiving psychotropic medication, whether the child:
(i)  has been provided appropriate nonpharmacological interventions, therapies, or strategies to meet the child's needs; or
(ii)  has been seen by the prescribing physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice nurse at least once every 90 days;
(G)  whether an education decision-maker for the child has been identified, the child's education needs and goals have been identified and addressed, and there have been major changes in the child's school performance or there have been serious disciplinary events;
(H)  for a child 14 years of age or older, whether services that are needed to assist the child in transitioning from substitute care to independent living are available in the child's community;
(I)  for a child whose permanency goal is another planned permanent living arrangement:
(i)  the desired permanency outcome for the child, by asking the child;
(ii)  whether, as of the date of the hearing, another planned permanent living arrangement is the best permanency plan for the child and, if so, provide compelling reasons why it continues to not be in the best interest of the child to:
(a)  return home;
(b)  be placed for adoption;
(c)  be placed with a legal guardian; or
(d)  be placed with a fit and willing relative;
(iii)  whether the department has conducted an independent living skills assessment under Section 264.121(a-3);
(iv)  whether the department has addressed the goals identified in the child's permanency plan, including the child's housing plan, and the results of the independent living skills assessment;
(v)  if the youth is 16 years of age or older, whether there is evidence that the department has provided the youth with the documents and information listed in Section 264.121(e); and
(vi)  if the youth is 18 years of age or older or has had the disabilities of minority removed, whether there is evidence that the department has provided the youth with the documents and information listed in Section 264.121(e-1);
(J)  based on the court's determination under Section 263.002, whether continued placement is appropriate if the child is placed in a residential treatment center; and
(K)  based on the court's determination under Section 263.00201, whether continued placement is appropriate if the child is placed in a qualified residential treatment program;
(6)  determine whether to return the child to the child's parents if the child's parents are willing and able to provide the child with a safe environment and the return of the child is in the child's best interest;
(7)  estimate a likely date by which the child may be returned to and safely maintained in the child's home, placed for adoption, or placed in permanent managing conservatorship; and
(8)  announce in open court the dismissal date and the date of any upcoming hearings.
(b)  Repealed by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 , Sec. 86(18), eff. September 1, 2015.
(c)  In addition to the requirements of Subsection (a-1), at each permanency hearing before a final order is rendered the court shall review the department's efforts to:
(1)  ensure that the child has regular, ongoing opportunities to engage in age-appropriate normalcy activities, including activities not listed in the child's service plan; and
(2)  for a child placed with a relative of the child or other designated caregiver, inform the caregiver of:
(A)  the option to become verified by a licensed child-placing agency to operate an agency foster home, if applicable; and
(B)  the permanency care assistance program under Subchapter K, Chapter 264.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995.  Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 751, Sec. 114, eff. Sept. 1, 1995;  Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 600, Sec. 16, eff. Jan. 1, 1998;  Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 603, Sec. 11, eff. Jan. 1, 1998;  Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1022, Sec. 89, eff. Jan. 1, 1998;  Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1390, Sec. 47, eff. Sept. 1, 1999;  Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 306, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2001;  Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 849, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Amended by: 
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 108 (H.B. 1629), Sec. 8, eff. May 23, 2009.
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1372 (S.B. 939), Sec. 7, eff. June 19, 2009.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 191 (S.B. 352), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2013.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 204 (H.B. 915), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2013.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 688 (H.B. 2619), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2013.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.180, eff. April 2, 2015.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 262 (S.B. 1407), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 697 (H.B. 825), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 206), Sec. 35, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 206), Sec. 36, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 206), Sec. 86(17), eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 206), Sec. 86(18), eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 7.009(a), eff. September 1, 2017.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 7.009(b), eff. September 1, 2017.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488, Sec. 7.009(c), eff. September 1, 2017.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 937 (S.B. 1758), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2017.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 375 (H.B. 1884), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2019.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1294 (H.B. 3390), Sec. 10, eff. June 14, 2019.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 956 (S.B. 1930), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2023.