House Bill No. 3282 amends the Family Code to establish new procedures for the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) regarding the termination of the parent-child relationship. The bill introduces several conditions under which DFPS may file a petition for termination, including requirements that the child has been in temporary conservatorship for at least 12 of the previous 22 months, the child is under two years old and has been previously determined abandoned, or the petition alleges aggravated circumstances with prior court findings. Additionally, the bill specifies circumstances under which DFPS cannot file such a petition, such as when the child is being cared for by a relative or if the parent maintains a meaningful role in the child's life despite incarceration.

The bill also modifies the timeline for the court's jurisdiction over suits affecting the parent-child relationship, stating that jurisdiction is automatically terminated one year after the temporary order appointing DFPS as conservator unless certain conditions are met. Specifically, a parent may request an extension if the court finds that DFPS has filed a petition to terminate parental rights or if extraordinary circumstances necessitate the child's continued placement in conservatorship. The changes apply to all relevant suits pending or filed after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 161.101, Family Code 263.401 (Family Code 161, Family Code 263)
House Committee Report: Family Code 161.101, Family Code 263.401 (Family Code 161, Family Code 263)