Bill > SB1830

This bill, known as the Safe Haven Act, establishes new regulations for parental reunification therapy in Texas family law cases. The bill defines parental reunification therapy as any therapy, treatment, program, or service intended to repair a child's relationship with a parent, and introduces significant restrictions on how such therapy can be ordered or implemented. Specifically, the court cannot require a child to participate in reunification therapy without the consent of both parents, and is prohibited from ordering therapy that involves potentially harmful elements such as forcing separation from other family members, mandating overnight stays or out-of-state travel, transferring child custody, using transportation services that might threaten the child's safety, or employing physical force, verbal abuse, or isolation. The bill also requires entities providing reunification therapy to have explicit, detailed service contracts signed by all participating parties after full disclosure of the therapy's processes. Additionally, individuals who believe an entity has violated these provisions can file a complaint with the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors or another appropriate licensing authority. The law applies to both ongoing and future parent-child relationship suits and takes effect either immediately with a two-thirds legislative vote or on September 1, 2025, if immediate approval is not achieved.