Relating to the appointment of the Department of Family and Protective Services and a child's parent or legal guardian as joint managing conservators for the child.

SB 588 requires the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to discuss joint managing conservatorship with a child's parent or legal guardian before filing a lawsuit seeking sole custody for mental health services. Courts must appoint DFPS and the parent as joint conservators if the parent has exhausted all reasonable options to secure mental health services and agrees to participate in the child's service plan. The bill also prohibits using hotels or unlicensed facilities for temporary emergency care for children in this joint conservatorship arrangement. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, applying only to cases filed after that date.