1. (a) The commission shall designate an individual, including a member of a community-based organization, to serve as a volunteer advocate for a child residing in an institution to assist in developing a permanency plan for the child if:

   1. (1) the child's parent or guardian requests the assistance of an advocate;
   2. (2) the institution in which the child is placed cannot locate the child's parent or guardian; or
   3. (3) the child resides in an institution the commission operates.

2. (b) The individual designated to serve as the child's volunteer advocate may be:

   1. (1) an individual the child's parent or guardian selects, except that the individual may not be employed by or under a contract with the institution in which the child resides;
   2. (2) an adult relative of the child; or
   3. (3) a child advocacy group representative.
3. (c) The commission shall provide to each individual designated to serve as a child's volunteer advocate information regarding permanency planning under this subchapter.

Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025.