Text of section effective on April 01, 2025
Sec. 546.0207.  DESIGNATION OF VOLUNTEER ADVOCATE.  (a)  The commission shall designate an individual, including a member of a community-based organization, to serve as a volunteer advocate for a child residing in an institution to assist in developing a permanency plan for the child if:
(1)  the child's parent or guardian requests the assistance of an advocate;
(2)  the institution in which the child is placed cannot locate the child's parent or guardian; or
(3)  the child resides in an institution the commission operates.
(b)  The individual designated to serve as the child's volunteer advocate may be:
(1)  an individual the child's parent or guardian selects, except that the individual may not be employed by or under a contract with the institution in which the child resides;
(2)  an adult relative of the child; or
(3)  a child advocacy group representative.
(c)  The commission shall provide to each individual designated to serve as a child's volunteer advocate information regarding permanency planning under this subchapter.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025.