Section 681.51 - Parenting Coordination(a) In accordance with 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 Texas Family Code, § 153.606, in a suit; and (2) who: (A) is appointed under Texas Family Code, Chapter 153, 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 has a duty to provide the following information in writing to the parties of the suit about the responsibility of the licensee and the role of the appointed court. (1) 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 professional counseling. 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. (2) Records of a licensee serving as a parenting coordinator are confidential under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, § 154.073. Licensees serving as a confidential parenting coordinator must comply with the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 154, (3) A licensee must not provide professional counseling services to any person while simultaneously providing parenting coordination services. This section does not apply if the court enters a finding that mental health services are not readily available in the location where the parties reside.22 Tex. Admin. Code § 681.51
The provisions of this §681.51 adopted to be effective September 1, 2003, 28 TexReg 4134; amended to be effective April 27, 2008, 33 TexReg 3268; amended to be effective December 12, 2013, 38 TexReg 8889; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 44, Number 08, February 22, 2019, TexReg 0854, eff. 2/28/2019; Adopted by Texas Register, Volume 45, Number 46, November 13, 2020, TexReg 8139, eff. 11/19/2020