Policy

Bills

Bill

Author Sen. Lois Kolkhorst

SB 1930

Allows guardian ad litem and attorney ad litem input on current or prospective RTC placements, court determination on residential placements.

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Bill

Author Sen. Lois Kolkhorst

SB 1853

Adds pre and post adopt services to SSCC contracts, adds independent living, Adds family preservation service definition and requirement.

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Bill

Author Sen. Lois Kolkhorst

SB 1849

Requires DIR to establish an interagency child protection database with DFPS, HHSC, TEA, TJJD. (House Companion HB 4236, Candy Noble)

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Bill

Author Sen. Borris Miles

SB 1491

Licensure reciprocity with other states for psychologist, psychological assistant, LMFT, LMFTA, LPC.

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Bill

Author Sen. Borris Miles

SB 1447

Requires 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)

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Bill

Author Sen. Bryan Hughes

SB 1269

Clarifies 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.

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Bill

Author Sen. Brian Birdwell

SB 1163

Disallows 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)

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Bill

Author Sen. Brian Birdwell

SB 1162

Creates 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)

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Bill

Author Sen. Angela Paxton

SB 1100

Reciprocity for Licensed Professional Counselors in other states. (House Companion HB 2557, Brad Buckley)

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Bill

Author Sen. Royce West

SB 908

Full kinship payment parity, removes eligibility criteria, repeals the caregiver assistance agreement statute. (House Companion HB 2613, Lacey Hull)

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Bill

Author Sen. Lois Kolkhorst

SB 26

Mental Health services omnibus bill, including innovation grants for providers.

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Bill

Author Sen. Lois Kolkhorst

SB 24

Transfers PEI programs to HHSC and creates a “Continuum of care” for family services. (House Companion HB 4049, James Frank)

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Bill

Author Rep. Tom Oliverson

HB 3933

Clarifies liability protection for SSCCs and other contracted child welfare providers. (Senate Companion SB 2022, Charles Perry)

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Bill

Author Rep. Jeff Leach

HB 3533

Statute of limitations changes for certain offenses against children.

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Bill

Author Rep. Josey Garcia

HB 2898

Adds suicide to the definition of preventable death.

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Bill

Author Rep. Mihaela Plesa

HB 2610

Requires additional trauma training for DFPS caseworkers, supervisors, and foster parents, adoptive parents, kinship caregivers, and SSCCs and staff.

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Bill

Author Rep. Drew Darby

HB 1879

Allows LMSW and LPCA to receive reimbursement for providing services to Medicaid recipients.

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Bill

Author HB James Frank

HB 1517

Comprehensive 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)

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Bill

Author Rep. Joe Moody

HB 1396

Adds additional providers (LMSW, LPCA, LMFT) that can bill Medicaid for counseling services. (Senate Companion SB 2132, Borris Miles)

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Bill

Author Rep. Cody Harris

HB 1229

Disallows HHSC, DFPS, or CPA from asking a foster home about weapons in the home. (Senate Companion SB 1165, Brian Birdwell)

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Bill

Author Rep. Candy Noble

HB 793

Allows parents to choose their own services under certain criteria and requires that DFPS reimburse the cost.

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Bill

Author Rep. Matt Shaheen

HB 592

Allows health professionals licensed and in good standing in other states to register in Texas and provide telehealth/telemedicine services.

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Bill

Author Rep. Ann Johnson

HB 206

Removes the statute of limitations for certain sexual offenses. (Senate Companion SB 751, Pete Flores)

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Bill

Author Sen. Sparks

SB 593

Relating 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.

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Bill

Author Sen. West

SB 137

Requires DFPS to establish a counseling and crisis management program for relative or other designated caregivers. (House Companion HB 2481, Josey Garcia)

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Bill

Author Sen. Menendez

SB 107

Proposes to allow relative or other designated caregivers to elect to receive the full daily foster care payment, regardless of licensure or verification.

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Bill

Author Sen. Zaffirini

SB 50

Requires 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.

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Bill

Author Rep. Frank

HB 730

Proposes new procedures for investigations and removal proceedings.

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Bill

Author Rep. Bailes

HB 637

Proposes to extend permanency care assistance payments until age 21.

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Bill

Author Author Rep. Hull

HB 463

Proposes to narrow the population of newly-removed children that receive an initial medical exam.

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Bill

Author Rep. Goodwin

HB 304

Proposes to allow relative or other designated caregivers to elect to receive the full daily foster care payment, regardless of licensure or verification.

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Bill

Author Rep. Mary Gonzalez

HB 211

Proposes to restrict the reasons that a provider can deny placement to a child with disabilities or special needs.

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Bill

Author Sen. Nelson

SB 11

Relating to making supplemental appropriations and giving direction regarding appropriations.

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Bill

Author Rep. Johnson, Jarvis

HB 1315

Mandates 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.

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Bill

Author Rep. Klick

HB 2058

Requires a court to review the department's (DFPS) efforts to ensure children have opportunities to engage in normal age-appropriate activities while in care.

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Bill

Author Rep. Leman

HB 3379

Increases the standard to report child abuse to situations in which the person has reasonable cause for the occurrence of child abuse.

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Bill

Author Sen. Menendez

SB 2054

Waives 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.

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Bill

Author Rep. Turner, John

HB 3121

Requires HHS to create a voluntary standards certification process for private psychiatric residential youth treatment facilities to provide for step-down services from behavioral hospitals.

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Bill

Author Rep. Johnson, Jarvis

HB 80

For 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.

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Bill

Author Sen. Paxton

SB 1059

Automatically enrolls foster youth to receive Medicaid until 26 and streamlines the process for youth transitioning to independent living to recertify their Medicaid eligibility.

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Bill

Author Rep. Harris

HB 1387

Allows 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.

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Bill

Author Sen. Blanco

SB 437

Mandates HHSC to develop guidelines for the procurement and distribution of Personal Protective Equipment for essential workers​.

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Bill

Author Rep. Sanford

HB 2374

Establishes an efficiency audit for DFPS every 4 years to determine efficacy of the department, outcomes for families, and utilization of resources.

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Bill

Author Sen. Menendez

SB 263

Expands the category of relative caretakers eligible for a supplemental payment by TANF. ​

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Bill

Author Rep. Parker

HB 2926

Allows for parental rights to be reinstated 2 years after termination if the child has not been adopted. ​

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Bill

Author Rep. Klick

HB 2058

Requires 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.

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Bill

Author Sen. West

SB 452

Broadens the requirements for Prevention and Early Intervention programs and practices to be on the evidence-based continuum.

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Bill

Author Rep. Johnson, Ann

HB 2633

Establishes the trafficked persons grant program to provide grants for dedicated housing and treatment facilities to human trafficking victims.

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Bill

Author Rep. Krause

HB 2536

Allows for parents to get a second opinion from doctors without being accused of neglect.

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Bill

Author Rep. Minjarez

HB 135

Changes investigations procedures by notifying the Alleged Perpetrator of their right to record an interview with the investigation caseworker.

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Bill

Author Sen. Kolkhorst

SB 1896

Omnibus foster care bill addressing numerous issues including Community Based Care, capacity, Treatment Foster Care, and support for behavioral health needs.

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Bill

Author Sen. Kolkhorst

SB 1575

Codifies 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.

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Bill

Author Sen. Schwertner

SB 910

Mandates 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.

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Bill

Author Sen. Blanco

SB 863

Allows residential childcare facilities to temporarily relocate during a declared disaster. ​

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Bill

Author Rep. Frank

HB 3041

Creates a pilot for FFPSA/FBSS family preservation services in 2 different regions within the state; one must be a CBC catchment area.

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Bill

Author Rep. Johnson, Jarvis

HB 700

Allows for children to receive college credit for completing the PAL curriculum while in care, and assists youth in preparation for aging out of care.

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Bill

Author Rep. Frank

HB 567

This 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.

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Bill

Author Sen. West

SB 642

Adjusts 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. ​

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Bill

Author Rep. Price

HB 4

Telehealth bill that makes the temporary provisions established during COVID-19, permanent. ​

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