FL H1613

Regional counsel is authorized to provide preventative, pre-petition legal representation to indigent parents who are subjects of child protective investigations under section 39.301.

Regional counsel may appear in or initiate civil actions related to investigations, including injunctions for domestic violence protection, defense of residential tenancy or housing rights, and parentage determinations.

Regional counsel must determine indigency within 5 days of initial contact using the application form and criteria of the clerk of court under section 27.52, and must withdraw representation if a person is determined to be non-indigent.

Child protective investigators must inform parents unable to afford attorneys of their right to representation by regional counsel during investigations and provide contact information for the local regional counsel office offering pre-petition representation, if available.

Child protective responders must receive training on how to inform parents and legal custodians of their right to legal counsel and that indigent parents have the right to regional counsel representation, if locally available.

The act takes effect July 1, 2021.