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Texas Family Code - Section 107.031. Volunteer Advocates

Legal Research Home > Texas Lawyer > Family Code > Texas Family Code - Section 107.031. Volunteer Advocates

§ 107.031. VOLUNTEER ADVOCATES.  (a) In a suit filed by a 
governmental entity requesting termination of the parent-child 
relationship or appointment of the entity as conservator of the 
child, the court may appoint a charitable organization composed of 
volunteer advocates whose charter mandates the provision of 
services to allegedly abused and neglected children or an 
individual who has received the court's approved training regarding 
abused and neglected children and who has been certified by the 
court to appear at court hearings as a guardian ad litem for the 
child or as a volunteer advocate for the child.
	(b)  In a suit other than a suit filed by a governmental 
entity requesting termination of the parent-child relationship or 
appointment of the entity as conservator of the child, the court may 
appoint a charitable organization composed of volunteer advocates 
whose training provides for the provision of services in private 
custody disputes or a person who has received the court's approved 
training regarding the subject matter of the suit and who has been 
certified by the court to appear at court hearings as a guardian ad 
litem for the child or as a volunteer advocate for the child.  A 
person appointed under this subsection is not entitled to fees 
under Section 107.023.
	(c)  A court-certified volunteer advocate appointed under 
this section may be assigned to act as a surrogate parent for the 
child, as provided by 20 U.S.C. Section 1415(b), if:
		(1)  the child is in the conservatorship of the 
Department of Family and Protective Services;
		(2)  the volunteer advocate is serving as guardian ad 
litem for the child;  and
		(3)  a foster parent of the child is not acting as the 
child's parent under Section 29.015, Education Code.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 751, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.  
Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1294, § 6, eff. Sept. 1, 
1997;  Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 430, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1999;  
Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 262, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003;  Acts 
2005, 79th Leg., ch. 172, § 11, eff. Sept. 1, 2005.

Last modified: August 11, 2007