The bill amends Section 107.015 of the Family Code to establish new provisions regarding the compensation of attorneys ad litem appointed in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by governmental entities. It specifies that these attorneys are entitled to reasonable fees and expenses set by the court, which are to be paid by the parents unless they are indigent. If the parents are found to be indigent, the attorney ad litem will be compensated from the county's general funds according to a specified fee schedule. Additionally, the bill clarifies that courts in counties with populations of three million or more must set a minimum hourly rate of $250 for these attorneys.

Furthermore, the bill includes a requirement for attorneys ad litem to submit a voucher or claim for payment detailing the fees charged and hours worked. It also prohibits courts in larger counties from modifying these vouchers to reduce the payment to the attorney. The changes apply to any pending or future suits affecting the parent-child relationship as of the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 107.015 (Family Code 107)