S.B. No. 24 amends the Family Code to enhance the appointment and compensation processes for attorneys ad litem in cases involving the parent-child relationship filed by governmental entities. The bill 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 parental rights or the appointment of a conservator is requested. Additionally, it introduces a new fee schedule for compensating attorneys ad litem, which must be developed and adopted by the courts in each county. This fee schedule will outline payments for time spent in court and out of court, as well as reimbursements for necessary expenses.

The bill also includes provisions for the removal of attorneys from the list of qualified individuals if they submit false claims for payment. It establishes a process for attorneys whose payment claims are denied or modified to appeal to the presiding judge of the administrative judicial region. The new legal language inserted into the Family Code includes the requirement for a fee schedule and the conditions under which attorneys can be compensated, while certain existing provisions regarding attorney fees against the state have been deleted. The changes will take effect on March 1, 2026, for attorneys appointed after that date.

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