89R3635 DNC-D     By: Gervin-Hawkins H.B. No. 661       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a deadline for completing services under a family   service plan.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 263.102, Family Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e-1) to read as   follows:          (a)  The service plan must:                (1)  be specific;                (2)  be in writing in a language that the parents   understand, or made otherwise available;                (3)  be prepared by the department in conference with   the child's parents;                (4)  state appropriate deadlines;                (5)  specify the primary permanency goal and at least   one alternative permanency goal;                (6)  state steps that are necessary to:                      (A)  return the child to the child's home if the   placement is in foster care;                      (B)  enable the child to remain in the child's   home with the assistance of a service plan if the placement is in   the home under the department's supervision; or                      (C)  otherwise provide a permanent safe placement   for the child;                (7)  state the actions and responsibilities that are   necessary for the child's parents to take to achieve the plan goal   during the period of the service plan and the assistance to be   provided to the parents by the department or other agency toward   meeting that goal;                (8)  state any specific skills or knowledge that the   child's parents must acquire or learn, as well as any behavioral   changes the parents must exhibit, to achieve the plan goal;                (9)  state the actions and responsibilities that are   necessary for the child's parents to take to ensure that the child   attends school and maintains or improves the child's academic   compliance;                (10)  state the name of the person with the department   whom the child's parents may contact for information relating to   the child if other than the person preparing the plan; [and]                (11)  prescribe any other term or condition that the   department determines to be necessary to the service plan's   success; and                (12)  describe any services the department will provide   under Subsection (e).          (e-1)  Services provided by the department under Subsection   (e) must be concluded not later than the 15th business day before   the dismissal date for the suit as provided by Subchapter E.          SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only   to a service plan that is created on or after the effective date of   this Act. A service plan that is created before the effective date   of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the service   plan was created, and the former law is continued in effect for that   purpose.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.