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.
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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