{"data":{"id":"us-tx/tex.-family-code-263.302","jurisdiction":"us-tx","citation":"Tex. Family Code § 263.302","heading":"CHILD'S ATTENDANCE AT HEARING.","body":"The child shall attend each permanency hearing unless the court specifically excuses the child's attendance. A child committed to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department may attend a permanency hearing in person, by telephone, or by videoconference. The court shall consult with the child in a developmentally appropriate manner regarding the child's permanency plan, if the child is four years of age or older and if the court determines it is in the best interest of the child. Failure by the child to attend a hearing does not affect the validity of an order rendered at the hearing.\nAdded by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 600, Sec. 11, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 603, Sec. 6, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1022, Sec. 84, eff. Jan. 1, 1998.\nAmended by:\nActs 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1304 (S.B. 759), Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007.\nActs 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 108 (H.B. 1629), Sec. 6, eff. May 23, 2009.\nActs 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 734 (H.B. 1549), Sec. 85, eff. September 1, 2015.","path":["FAMILY CODE","TITLE 5. THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AND THE SUIT AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP","SUBTITLE E. PROTECTION OF THE CHILD","CHAPTER 263. REVIEW OF PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN UNDER CARE OF DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES","SUBCHAPTER D. PERMANENCY HEARINGS"],"source_url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/FA/htm/FA.263.htm#263.302","current_through":"89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T01:47:10Z","sha256":"4dc29406923451a0ffb064540764afab630ea79ed9986eb9765dd61b298232bf","source_id":"us-tx","stale":false,"prev":"us-tx/tex.-family-code-263.203","next":"us-tx/tex.-family-code-263.3025"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}