(a) In accordance with the Texas Family Code, §153.601(3),
"parenting coordinator" means an impartial third party:
(1) who, regardless of the title by which the person
is designated by the court, performs any function described in the
Texas Family Code, §153.606, in a suit affecting the parent-child
relationship; and
(2) who:
(A) is appointed under Texas Family Code, Subchapter
K (relating to Parenting Plan, Parenting Coordinator, and Parenting
Facilitator) by the court on its own motion, or on a motion or agreement
of the parties, to assist parties in resolving parenting issues through
confidential procedures; and
(B) is not appointed under another statute or a rule
of civil procedure.
(b) A licensee who serves as a parenting coordinator
is not acting under the authority of a license issued by the council,
and is not engaged in the practice of marriage and family therapy.
The services provided by the licensee who serves as a parenting coordinator
are not within the jurisdiction of the council, but rather the jurisdiction
of the appointing court.
(c) A licensee who serves as a parenting coordinator
has a duty to provide the information in subsection (b) of this section,
to the parties to the suit.
(d) Records of a licensee serving as a parenting coordinator
are confidential under the Texas Civil Practices and Remedies Code, §154.073.
Licensees serving as a confidential parenting coordinator shall comply
with the Texas Civil Practices and Remedies Code, Chapter 154, relating
to the release of information.
(e) A licensee may not provide marriage and family
therapy services to any person while simultaneously providing parenting
coordination services. The foregoing rule does not apply if the court
enters a finding that mental health services are not readily available
in the location where the parties reside.
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