The board must create a reconsideration process for certain extension orders, and the department must provide a clear form and help children complete requests.
Sec. 245.104. REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF EXTENSION ORDER. (a) The board by rule shall establish a process to request the reconsideration of an extension order issued by a panel under Section 245.102. (b) The process to request reconsideration must provide that: (1) a child, a parent, guardian, or designated advocate of a child, an employee of the department, or a person who provides volunteer services at a department facility may submit a request for reconsideration of an extension order; (2) the person submitting the request for reconsideration of an extension order must state in the request the reason for the request; (3) after receiving a request for reconsideration of an extension order, the panel shall reconsider an extension order that: (A) extends the child's stay in the custody of the department by six months or more; or (B) combined with previous extension orders will result in an extension of the child's stay in the custody of the department by six months or more; (4) the panel's reconsideration of an extension order includes consideration of the information submitted in the request; and (5) the panel shall send a written reply to the child, the parent, guardian, or designated advocate of the child, and the person who made the request for reconsideration of an extension order that includes an explanation of the panel's decision after reconsidering the extension order, including an indication that the panel has considered the information submitted in the request. (c) The department shall create a form for a request for reconsideration of an extension order that is clear and easy to understand. The department shall ensure that a child may request assistance in completing a request for reconsideration of an extension order. Transferred, redesignated and amended from Human Resources Code, Subchapter F, Chapter 61 by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 85 (S.B. 653), Sec. 1.007, eff. September 1, 2011.