Allows guardian ad litem and attorney ad litem input on current or prospective RTC placements, court determination on residential placements.
Learn moreAdds pre and post adopt services to SSCC contracts, adds independent living, Adds family preservation service definition and requirement.
Learn moreRequires DIR to establish an interagency child protection database with DFPS, HHSC, TEA, TJJD. (House Companion HB 4236, Candy Noble)
Learn moreLicensure reciprocity with other states for psychologist, psychological assistant, LMFT, LMFTA, LPC.
Learn moreRequires an updated training program for investigators that includes abbreviated investigations, administrative closures, notification of alleged perpetrators righto to record interviews, child placement resources, administrative review timelines, relative placements, dispositions, and risk findings, and much more. (House Companion HB 1289, Elizabeth Campos)
Learn moreClarifies that if a parent is voluntarily undergoing substance use or mental health treatment, that shouldn't be held against them. Also adds that a statement made out of court by a mandatory reporter cannot be used as evidence unless the statement can be independently corroborated.
Learn moreDisallows the addition of a person to the registry unless a court has made a finding of abuse or neglect, disallows DFPS from making findings. (House Companion HB 4269, Stephanie Klick)
Learn moreCreates expungement review panel, automatic removal from the registry after 18 years, unless subsequent findings or aggravated circumstances; remove minors from the registry if more than two years have passed since RTB. (House Companion HB 4267, Stephanie Klick)
Learn moreReciprocity for Licensed Professional Counselors in other states. (House Companion HB 2557, Brad Buckley)
Learn moreFull kinship payment parity, removes eligibility criteria, repeals the caregiver assistance agreement statute. (House Companion HB 2613, Lacey Hull)
Learn moreMental Health services omnibus bill, including innovation grants for providers.
Learn moreTransfers PEI programs to HHSC and creates a “Continuum of care” for family services. (House Companion HB 4049, James Frank)
Learn moreClarifies liability protection for SSCCs and other contracted child welfare providers. (Senate Companion SB 2022, Charles Perry)
Learn moreStatute of limitations changes for certain offenses against children.
Learn moreAdds suicide to the definition of preventable death.
Learn moreRequires additional trauma training for DFPS caseworkers, supervisors, and foster parents, adoptive parents, kinship caregivers, and SSCCs and staff.
Learn moreAllows LMSW and LPCA to receive reimbursement for providing services to Medicaid recipients.
Learn moreComprehensive third party review and of minimum standards, contract requirements, and rules for providers and recommendations for reducing unnecessary oversight. (Senate Companion SB 593, Kevin Sparks)
Learn moreAdds additional providers (LMSW, LPCA, LMFT) that can bill Medicaid for counseling services. (Senate Companion SB 2132, Borris Miles)
Learn moreDisallows HHSC, DFPS, or CPA from asking a foster home about weapons in the home. (Senate Companion SB 1165, Brian Birdwell)
Learn moreAllows parents to choose their own services under certain criteria and requires that DFPS reimburse the cost.
Learn moreAllows health professionals licensed and in good standing in other states to register in Texas and provide telehealth/telemedicine services.
Learn moreRemoves the statute of limitations for certain sexual offenses. (Senate Companion SB 751, Pete Flores)
Learn moreRelating to licensing and oversight of certain facilities and homes providing substitute care for children in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Learn moreRequires DFPS to establish a counseling and crisis management program for relative or other designated caregivers. (House Companion HB 2481, Josey Garcia)
Learn moreProposes to allow relative or other designated caregivers to elect to receive the full daily foster care payment, regardless of licensure or verification.
Learn moreRequires DFPS to establish guidelines in rule for placement of a child in a residential facility where a preventable death has occurred. Also requires HHSC to deny any application if the applicant operated a facility where a preventable death occurred, and commission terminated a contract with the facility as a result of the death.
Learn moreProposes new procedures for investigations and removal proceedings.
Learn moreProposes to extend permanency care assistance payments until age 21.
Learn moreProposes to narrow the population of newly-removed children that receive an initial medical exam.
Learn moreProposes to allow relative or other designated caregivers to elect to receive the full daily foster care payment, regardless of licensure or verification.
Learn moreProposes to restrict the reasons that a provider can deny placement to a child with disabilities or special needs.
Learn moreRelating to making supplemental appropriations and giving direction regarding appropriations.
Learn moreMandates for the court to appoint an attorney ad litem or a guardian ad litem to serve the entire duration of time a child spends in permanent managing conservatorship of the state.
Learn moreRequires a court to review the department's (DFPS) efforts to ensure children have opportunities to engage in normal age-appropriate activities while in care.
Learn moreIncreases the standard to report child abuse to situations in which the person has reasonable cause for the occurrence of child abuse.
Learn moreWaives any fees relating to obtaining a driver's license for any child who was a foster youth until the age of 18 and for homeless children.
Learn moreRequires HHS to create a voluntary standards certification process for private psychiatric residential youth treatment facilities to provide for step-down services from behavioral hospitals.
Learn moreFor fine-only misdemeanors, a court may allow foster youth or youth in extended care to not have to pay the fine and instead participate in community service.
Learn moreAutomatically enrolls foster youth to receive Medicaid until 26 and streamlines the process for youth transitioning to independent living to recertify their Medicaid eligibility.
Learn moreAllows for firearms in foster homes to be stored without a trigger lock and can be stored with the ammunition. The bill still requires for the firearm and ammunition to be in a locked location.
Learn moreMandates HHSC to develop guidelines for the procurement and distribution of Personal Protective Equipment for essential workers.
Learn moreEstablishes an efficiency audit for DFPS every 4 years to determine efficacy of the department, outcomes for families, and utilization of resources.
Learn moreExpands the category of relative caretakers eligible for a supplemental payment by TANF.
Learn moreAllows for parental rights to be reinstated 2 years after termination if the child has not been adopted.
Learn moreRequires judge to review normalcy activities before and after a final order, so that all children in DFPS conservatorship have regular, ongoing opportunities to engage in age-appropriate normalcy activities.
Learn moreBroadens the requirements for Prevention and Early Intervention programs and practices to be on the evidence-based continuum.
Learn moreEstablishes the trafficked persons grant program to provide grants for dedicated housing and treatment facilities to human trafficking victims.
Learn moreAllows for parents to get a second opinion from doctors without being accused of neglect.
Learn moreChanges investigations procedures by notifying the Alleged Perpetrator of their right to record an interview with the investigation caseworker.
Learn moreOmnibus foster care bill addressing numerous issues including Community Based Care, capacity, Treatment Foster Care, and support for behavioral health needs.
Learn moreCodifies judicial review requirement in federal FFPSA statute for implementation of FFPSA. Requires a study to look at the need for judicial review in other license types.
Learn moreMandates DFPS to create a plan for the implementation of preservation services into CBC while considering the use of Title IV-E services to receive matching federal funds.
Learn moreAllows residential childcare facilities to temporarily relocate during a declared disaster.
Learn moreCreates a pilot for FFPSA/FBSS family preservation services in 2 different regions within the state; one must be a CBC catchment area.
Learn moreAllows for children to receive college credit for completing the PAL curriculum while in care, and assists youth in preparation for aging out of care.
Learn moreThis bill increases the threshold of the definition of neglect to an action that places a child in immediate danger to health and safety. It also mandates that a removal cannot occur if the parents tested positive for Marijuana unless the department can prove that the use of the substance caused harm to the child.
Learn moreAdjusts the RTC Diversion Program making it more accessible to families. The bill allows for families to have better access to services to avoid unnecessary removals.
Learn moreTelehealth bill that makes the temporary provisions established during COVID-19, permanent.
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