S.B. No. 2165 amends the Family Code to establish new provisions regarding the dismissal of suits affecting the parent-child relationship, particularly in cases involving the Department of Family and Protective Services. The bill introduces Section 263.4012, which mandates that if a court determines a child is missing from their substitute care provider, it must retain jurisdiction over the case and set a new dismissal date 180 days after the last dismissal date. The court is prohibited from dismissing the case until the child is found or until the child is no longer eligible for department services or benefits. Additionally, if the trial on the merits does not commence before the dismissal date, the court's jurisdiction will automatically terminate, resulting in the dismissal of the suit without a court order.

Furthermore, the bill modifies Section 263.501(g) to clarify that a court conducting permanency hearings for a child under the department's permanent managing conservatorship cannot dismiss a suit filed by the department while the child is either committed to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, released under its supervision, or missing from their substitute care provider. This change removes previous language that allowed for dismissal if the child was adopted or if permanent managing conservatorship was awarded to someone other than the department. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 263.501 (Family Code 263)
Senate Committee Report: Family Code 263.501 (Family Code 263)
Engrossed: Family Code 263.501 (Family Code 263)
House Committee Report: Family Code 263.501 (Family Code 263)
Enrolled: Family Code 263.501 (Family Code 263)