By: Gervin-Hawkins, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Cook) H.B. No. 694          (In the Senate - Received from the House April 30, 2025;   May 1, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Health &   Human Services; May 19, 2025, reported favorably by the following   vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 19, 2025, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to the notification of certain persons concerning certain   events related to children in the managing conservatorship of the   Department of Family and Protective Services.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 264.018, Family Code, is amended by   amending Subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) and adding Subsections   (h-1) and (m) to read as follows:          (d)  Not later than 24 hours after an event described by this   subsection, the department shall make a reasonable effort to notify   a parent of a child in the managing conservatorship of the   department and the parent's attorney, if represented by an   attorney, of:                (1)  a significant change in medical condition of the   child;                (2)  the enrollment or participation of the child in a   drug research program under Section 266.0041; [and]                (3)  an initial prescription of a psychotropic   medication; and                (4)  a change in the child's placement.          (e)  Not later than 48 hours before the department changes   the residential child-care facility of a child in the managing   conservatorship of the department, the department shall provide   notice of the change to:                (1)  the child's parent and the parent's attorney, if   represented by an attorney;                (2)  an attorney ad litem appointed for the child under   Chapter 107;                (3)  a guardian ad litem appointed for the child under   Chapter 107;                (4)  a volunteer advocate appointed for the child under   Chapter 107; and                (5)  the licensed administrator of the child-placing   agency responsible for placing the child or the licensed   administrator's designee.          (f)  Except as provided by Subsection (d-1), as soon as   possible but not later than 48 hours [the 10th day] after [the date]   the department becomes aware of a significant event affecting a   child in the conservatorship of the department, the department   shall provide notice of the significant event to:                (1)  the child's parent and the parent's attorney, if   represented by an attorney;                (2)  an attorney ad litem appointed for the child under   Chapter 107;                (3)  a guardian ad litem appointed for the child under   Chapter 107;                (4)  a volunteer advocate appointed for the child under   Chapter 107;                (5)  the licensed administrator of the child-placing   agency responsible for placing the child or the licensed   administrator's designee;                (6)  a foster parent, prospective adoptive parent,   relative of the child providing care to the child, or director of   the group home or general residential operation where the child is   residing; and                (7)  any other person determined by a court to have an   interest in the child's welfare.          (g)  For purposes of Subsection (f), if a hearing for the   child is conducted during the 48-hour [10-day] notice period   described by that subsection, the department shall provide notice   of the significant event at the hearing.          (h-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (h), the department shall   provide notice under this section to a parent's attorney if the   parent is represented by an attorney if:                (1)  the department cannot locate the parent; or                (2)  the child is in the permanent managing   conservatorship of the department and the parent has not   participated in the child's case for at least six months despite the   department's efforts to involve the parent.          (m)  The department shall document all notifications and   attempted notifications made under this section in the child's case   record.           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.     * * * * *