The bill amends various sections of the Family Code to enhance the appointment and compensation processes for attorneys ad litem in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by governmental entities. Key changes include the mandatory appointment of an attorney ad litem for children in such suits, ensuring their interests are represented immediately after filing. The bill also specifies that attorneys ad litem who are not employees of certain public representation offices will be compensated from the county's general funds according to a newly established fee schedule. This fee schedule must be developed collaboratively by the courts in each county and will outline eligible services and expenses for compensation.

Additionally, the bill introduces provisions for the removal of attorneys from the list of qualified individuals if they submit fraudulent claims for payment. It allows attorneys whose payment claims are denied or not approved within a specified timeframe to petition for payment from the presiding judge of the administrative judicial region. The bill mandates that the new fee schedule be adopted by January 1, 2026, and applies only to cases filed after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 107.012, Family Code 107.013, Family Code 107.015, Family Code 107.252, Family Code 107.255, Family Code 107.260 (Family Code 107)