The bill amends the Family Code to establish new provisions regarding the appointment and compensation of attorneys ad litem in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by governmental entities. It specifies that courts must appoint an attorney ad litem to represent certain parties, including indigent parents and alleged fathers, in cases where the termination of the parent-child relationship or the appointment of a conservator is requested. Additionally, the bill introduces a fee schedule for compensating attorneys ad litem, which must be developed and adopted by the courts in each county. This fee schedule will outline the payments for time spent in court and out of court, as well as reimbursements for necessary expenses.

Furthermore, the bill includes provisions for the removal of attorneys from the list of qualified individuals if they submit false 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 new legal language inserted into the Family Code includes the establishment of a fee schedule under Section 107.0155, which mandates that courts adopt this schedule by March 1, 2026, and clarifies the conditions under which attorneys ad litem will be compensated.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 107.013, Family Code 107.015 (Family Code 107)